February 03, (THEWILL) – The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU) has announced that the United Kingdom will host a summit of European Sports Ministers on February 10, to discuss the controversial decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
NOCU President and Ukrainian Sports Minister, Vadym Guttsait, revealed the plans during a press conference attended by key sporting officials in the country. Guttsait stated that the NOCU had sent letters to the International Olympic Committee President, Thomas Bach, the Heads of International Federations, and the National Olympic Committees, urging them to maintain sanctions against Russia and Belarus while Ukraine remains under attack.
The Sports Ministers of Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have also issued a joint statement calling on the IOC and International Federations to keep the sanctions in place. So far, up to 40 countries are reportedly opposed to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, with the threat of a possible boycott of Paris 2024 growing.
However, the IOC warned Ukraine that they would be in violation of the Olympic Charter if they boycotted the games. In response, Guttsait questioned the violation of peace as a violation of the Olympic Charter and expressed his belief that people are dying and fighting for independence.
The National Olympic Committee of Lithuania’s Athletes’ Commission has also put in place a resolution to support Ukrainian athletes and prevent athletes from Russia and Belarus, from competing in either Paris 2024 or Milan-Cortina 2026.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
