The White House does not object to allowing athletes from Russia or Belarus from taking part in the 2024 Summer Games and 2026 Winter Games — as long as it is "absolutely clear" that they are not representing their home countries, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday.
She reiterated that current sanctions against Russia and Belarus must remain in place.
"In cases where sports organizations and event organizers, such as the International Olympic Committee, choose to permit athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in supporting events, it should be absolutely clear that they are not representing the Russian or Belarusian states," Jean-Pierre said, adding that the use of any official Russian or Belarusian flags, emblems or anthems should be prohibited.
The White House's comments come after the International Olympic Committee outlined a multi-step plan for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate at the upcoming games as neutrals, which has drawn public outcry from Kyiv.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) outlined a multi-step plan for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate at the upcoming 2024 Summer Games in Paris and the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.
“No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport,” the IOC’s executive board declared.
In order for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete, they would represent as “neutral athletes and in no way represent their state or any other organisation in their country,” the IOC said.
“No flag, anthem, colours or any other identifications whatsoever of these countries being displayed at any sports event or meeting, including the entire venue.”
The statement of President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine Vadim Gutzeit about a possible boycott of the 2024 Paris Olympics is destructive and harms international sport, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin told reporters on Wednesday.
On January 26, Vadim Gutzeit, Ukraine's Youth and Sports Minister and president of the country's NOC, said on his Facebook page that the Ukrainian NOC had not ruled out refusing to take part in the Olympics if the ban on Russians and Belarusians participating in international competitions was not extended.
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