"Alarm signal" - Ukraine calls on IOC to reconsider decision to lift restrictions for the Russian Olympic Committee

The National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have appealed to the International Olympic Committee, which today lifted restrictions on the Russian Olympic Committee, calling for a review of the decision and continued consistent adherence to its own principles and decisions. This is stated in a statement by the NOC and the Ministry of Sports, reports UNN. 

The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine expresses its categorical disagreement with the decision of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee to temporarily lift the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee and terminate the recommendations of the IOC of February 28, 2022 and March 28, 2023 regarding the participation of Russian athletes in international sports competitions 

The NOC stated that they consider this decision premature, unjustified, and made without consideration of the objective circumstances that remain unchanged: the Russian Federation continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine, grossly violating international law and the fundamental principles of peace and security. 

Every day, Ukrainian cities suffer massive missile and drone attacks, civilians are killed, residential buildings, hospitals, educational institutions, and sports infrastructure facilities are destroyed. As a result of Russian aggression, hundreds of sports facilities have been destroyed or damaged, and since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has lost over 600 athletes, coaches, and representatives of the sports community. Under such circumstances, any decisions that effectively pave the way for Russia's full return to the international Olympic movement contradict not only the principles of justice but also the fundamental values of Olympism, based on respect for human dignity, peace, and international law 

The committee also noted that particular concern is raised by the fact that the basis for the temporary reinstatement of the ROC's activities was merely a statement by the Russian side about ceasing activities in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. At the same time, the NOC of Ukraine has repeatedly informed and provided the IOC and international sports federations with evidence that the Russian Olympic Committee and its controlled sports structures continue to carry out activities that violate the territorial jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and the provisions of the Olympic Charter.

The NOC of Ukraine calls on the International Olympic Committee to review the decision made and to continue to consistently adhere to its own principles and decisions, based on respect for the territorial integrity of National Olympic Committees, the requirements of the Olympic Charter, and the fundamental values of the Olympic Movement. We also appeal to international sports federations with a call to show responsibility and principle when making their own decisions regarding the participation of Russian athletes and teams in international competitions, based not only on formal legal procedures but also on an objective assessment of the real circumstances that remain unchanged: the Russian Federation continues to wage a war of aggression against Ukraine, and sport cannot become an instrument for legitimizing a state that grossly violates international law 

The joint statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Sports also emphasizes that the IOC's decision is an alarming signal for the entire international sports community.

The IOC has repeatedly emphasized that the Olympic movement is based on the values of peace, respect for human dignity, and responsibility. That is why any steps that could be perceived as the return of the aggressor state to full participation in international sport cause serious concern. We take note of the IOC's statement that the issue of using Russian state symbols during the Olympic Games will be considered separately. We hope that when making this decision, not only sporting but also moral principles will prevail 

Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidnyi and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on the governments of countries that will host international sports competitions not to allow the display of state symbols of the Russian Federation on their territory.

Under this flag, an unprovoked war continues, civilians die every day, and Ukrainian cities are destroyed. The symbols of the aggressor state cannot become an element of a sports celebration. We also appeal to international sports federations with a call to remember that sport is strong precisely when it remains faithful to its fundamental values - respect for human life, human dignity, freedom, justice, and peace 

Recall 

The International Olympic Committee has temporarily lifted restrictions on the Russian Olympic Committee, which were imposed after the ROC included Olympic committees from the occupied territories of Ukraine into its composition.