Britain criticizes  IOC over plan to allow Russians athletes compete at Paris Olympics

The International Olympic Committee’s efforts to find a “pathway” for Russians to take part in the 2024 Paris Games despite the invasion of Ukraine were strongly criticized by Britain on Thursday.

Ignoring calls from Ukraine to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from next year’s Olympics, the IOC said Wednesday that a way to allow competitors from those countries to take part should be “further explored”.

Russia and their allies Belarus have been sidelined from most Olympic sports since the invasion of Ukraine last February.

But the IOC s, aid “no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport”.
Hot on the heels of that announcement, the Olympic Council of Asia on Thursday offered Russian and Belarusian athletes the chance to compete in the Asian Games.

That is significant because they could gain qualifying marks in competition in Asia for the Paris Olympics.

The OAC said: “All athletes, regardless of their nationality or the passport they hold, should be able to compete in sports competitions.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is strongly opposed to any moves to reintegrate Russia. 

Britain’s Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said the IOC’s move was a “world away from the reality of war”. 

“We condemn any action that allows President Pulegitimizeitimise his illegal war in Ukraine,” Donelan said.

“This position from the IOC is a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people -- and IOC president (Thomas) Bach’s own words less than a year ago where he strongly condemned Russia for breaking the Olympic Truce and urged it to ‘give peace a chance,” she added.

The head of Denmark’s National Olympic Committee, Hans Natorp, said his country was also strongly opposed to Russia’s return to the Olympic fold.