Russia criticizes the International Olympic Committee; what does Ukraine say?

Russia and Ukraine are unhappy with the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 2024 Paris Olympics continues to be marred by heated controversy surrounding the inclusion of representatives from Russia and Ukraine. (Source: New York Times)

On December 8, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin criticized the “discriminatory conditions” imposed by the IOC on Russian athletes participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, requiring them to compete as neutral and not actively support the conflict in Ukraine.

The official stated: “These conditions are discriminatory; they go against the principles of sport. They are harming the Olympic Games, not Russian sport. This approach is unacceptable.”

For his part, writing on social media platform X , Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the IOC's decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutrals as "shameful." He urged partners to criticize the decision, arguing that it would undermine the principles of the Olympic Games.

Earlier that day, the IOC announced that eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutrals, without flags, symbols, or national anthems.

Initially, athletes from both countries were banned from international competition after Russia launched a "special military operation" in Ukraine in February 2022. Now, athletes are gradually being allowed back as neutral competitors in most sports.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-chi-trich-uy-ban-olympic-quoc-te-ukraine-noi-gi-253183.html