The Portuguese Olympians Commission wants Russians and Belarusians to be in Paris2024

The President of the Commission of Olympic Athletes (CAO), Diana Gomez, spoke out this Wednesday for the presence of Russians and Belarusians in Paris 2024, despite the “knot in the stomach” when she thinks about the plight of the Ukrainians.

“With regard to our athletes and organizations representing the CAO of various countries, the majority support the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). for the return of athletes to competitions. Most support the decision that sport is a tool to speak to the world, as it was when the Games were created,” the director said in a statement to Lusa.

The IOC has identified “openness” for the reintegration of Russians and Belarusians under a number of conditions, including competing under a neutral flag and without any symbols of their countries, as well as not supporting the war, a situation that has been sharply criticized by Ukraine, which accuses the organization in “hypocrisy” and even threatened to boycott the event.

“I can try to put myself in their place where they end up disagreeing with the war (…) and see their careers ruined. Now they will be really happy to see their hypothetical return, the light at the end of the tunnel. get back to your career and high performance,” said Diana Gomes, confident that the “overwhelming majority” of those now hindered are against the war.

Putting himself in the “skin” of a Ukrainian athlete, he proceeds from the fact that this is “the most difficult prospect”, namely, a “knot in the stomach” in connection with the current situation.

“I can only think in the most general terms, as if we were children and our parents behaved badly. And this has nothing to do with the fact that children are punished for the behavior of their parents. It’s the only way to put yourself in their place. I wonder if the children of other parents who behave badly will not suffer from this? This situation is very difficult, it is very delicate to give such an assessment,” he admits.

Between the desire for Olympic participation by Russians and Belarusians and the desire that the threat of a boycott of Ukraine not materialize, he expresses “hope” for the opportunity to see everyone at the competitions in Paris 2024.

“I and everyone else should hope so, however, I am very concerned about the supply of weapons and unilateral support, which contribute to the continuation of the war. And it always gives the feeling that it will last longer than the Olympic Games I and all of us must keep the hope that the war will end earlier or somehow stop it so that at this time one can live in peace,” he concluded.

On Tuesday, the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) demanded that its athletes attend Paris 2024 “under exactly the same conditions” as everyone else, also recommending that Ukraine skip the event in protest.

“The Russians must participate under exactly the same conditions as all other athletes. Any additional conditions and criteria are not welcome, especially those that have a political component, which is absolutely unacceptable for the Olympic Movement,” said Stanislav Pozdnyakov, President of the COR.

After the IOC expressed openness to the excluded by abiding by certain rules, several Ukrainian leaders who are fighting to avoid a participation scenario have already admitted to missing the event, denouncing the IOC’s “hypocrisy” and accusing it of being a propagandist for war. , death and destruction.”

RBA // VR

Lusa/The End