Ukraine supported, but not always listened to. For several days, the Ukrainian authorities have been putting pressure on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games next year, even under a neutral banner. If it is not listened to, Ukraine itself could boycott the event. Problem: the IOC tastes very little of these pressures.
Ukrainian threats to boycott the 2024 Olympics in Paris if Russian and Belarusian athletes participate “go against the fundamentals of the Olympic movement”criticizes the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach, in a letter dated January 31 and revealed this Thursday by the Ukrainian Olympic committee.
THE “pressures” Ukrainians are perceived as “extremely regrettable” by “the vast majority” National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and international federations, he says. “In this regard, the NOC of Ukraine certainly does not enjoy the support or solidarity of the vast majority of Olympic Movement stakeholders.”