The Executive Committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be admitted to this summer's Paris Games on a neutral individual basis if they meet a number of conditions.
First, athletes must meet the selection criteria of the international federations in order to be eligible to participate. So far, 4,600 athletes have qualified for the Paris Games and of these, 11 have received their selection as neutral athletes, eight with Russian passports and three with Belarusian passports.
For comparison: a total of 60 Ukrainian athletes already have their tickets for the City of Lights in their pockets and the IOC estimates that Ukraine will expect a similar delegation to Tokyo 2021. In the event that this is the case, there is a prospect of a boycott of Ukraine. The presence of Russia and Belarus appears to be waning, which may have influenced the IOC's decision, which took place in Lausanne on Tuesday in the company of the International Federations and the National Committees.
No contract with the army
Among other things, Russian and Belarusian athletes are not allowed to actively support the war or contract with the military or a national security agency to participate in the games. Teams will not be admitted and sanctions against both governments will remain in place. The flag, national anthems, colors and heads of state of both countries remain banned.
Middle-distance runner Charles Philibert-Thiboutot, who represents male athletes on the board of Athletics Canada and is co-president of the Athletes Council, is driven by ambivalent feelings. “As a Ukrainian athlete, I couldn’t imagine standing on the starting line and competing against Russian athletes,” he said. I fully support Ukrainian athletes. We are no longer in the age of colonization and invading another country is abhorrent.”
Dangerous precedent
However, the 1500 m specialist has concerns about excluding athletes for political reasons. “It would set a dangerous precedent to question an athlete’s status for geopolitical reasons,” he said. Depending on your political affiliation, you may or may not participate in the games. In contrast to doping controls, whose results are objective, political affiliation is more subjective. It’s really a complicated decision and I don’t have a clear answer to the question.”
Jean-Simon Desgagnés agrees. “It is difficult to ban an athlete who practices his sport individually with the aim of being the best in the world,” said the 3000m steeplechase specialist, who finished 8th at the last World Championships. For the most part, athletes have nothing to do with politics. The athletes are in trouble as they are funded by the government and it becomes difficult to express their dissent.
Desgagnés is optimistic and wants sport to bring the parties together. “Sport brings people together and the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes could be a message of hope in the most dramatic situations.”
Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) CEO and Secretary General David Shoemaker, who was in Switzerland, was traveling today and it was not possible to get a response from Canada.