IOC appear to double-down on their stance to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Olympics

The Olympic Games can "set an example" to the world on unity and building bridges, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) says.

The IOC is exploring the possibility of Russian athletes competing in Paris next year but has faced criticism in some quarters for examining ways that athletes from Russia and Belarus could participate in the Games as neutrals amid the ongoing invasion in Ukraine.

A group of more than 30 nations, including the United Kingdom, issued a joint statement on Monday calling for a ban on those athletes to continue.

#SkySportsNews #SkySports #olympics


More from Sky Sports on YouTube:

[edwardking]

Really? You’ll only have to ban them on illegal drug use later

[domL]

Why punish people for something they didn’t do?

[goosengander]

No reason Russian athletes should be banned. They aren't fighting the war, they're ordinary people. To ban them is discrimination. Just like the little 12 year old pianist in Vancouver that got cancelled over the war. And this suggestion to make athletes denounce the war is ridiculous. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and asking then to do so will end with them arrested upon their return. It's sickening that people are supportive of the very idea. Asking someone to condemn themselves to prison for a decade to play some sports. I dunno about anyone else but I am not okay with that. Maybe it's morals 🤷 If we can condemn an entire people over the actions of a few then let's condemn equally.

[kevinb]

I don't have a problem with it. They are not responsible for what their government does.

[cephasdaka]

I really don't get how people are calling for Russians to denounce the war in Ukraine and when they actually do it, u still want to punish them for it like they have any say in it.
This push for banning them is like punishing them for simply being Russian, which is BS.

[SideLemon]

Those athletes weren't responsible though, just like our athletes aren't responsible for for the recent oil and opium wars in the Middle East. Does seem like a double standard in terms of treatment. Recently we've started wars just for other people's resources or to install a subservient government.

[f_tune_baabs]

Nicely done by the IOC. Why should athletes be punished for political issues?

[IMMERSIVEVOICE]

It’s a disgrace. They should be banned for life for war crimes

[arifstar]

Might aswell condemn the UK for their illegal invasion of iraq and afghanistan

[arifstar]

😂😂i thought sports and politics dont mix. Western hypocrisy at its finest