The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have expressed outrage over the words of Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, Vice President of the International Olympic Committee and candidate for the post of IOC President, who said that Russia could return to the international sports community. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi
with reference to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
“The IOC vice president demonstrated contempt not only for Ukraine but also for the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, stating that it is necessary to “work very hard” to “immediately” restore Russia’s membership in the International Olympic Committee after it returns to compliance with the Charter, and hiding behind his words that the IOC should not “take sides” in conflicts, and that Russian aggression is only one of the “more than forty” armed conflicts in the world,” the statement said.
The Ministers of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matviy Bidnyi and Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga believe that such words of Samaranch Jr. indicate that the IOC Vice President is not aware of the Russian aggression or his desire to justify the aggressor, which is incompatible with his desire to take the post of President of the International Olympic Committee.
“The leader of the Olympic movement must adhere to the principles of peace, justice and respect for international law. We must recall that the sanctions, isolation and suspension of Russia from international sporting events were imposed in response to its unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine and atrocities that Europe has not seen since World War II,” the statement reads.
Sibiga and Bidnyi recalled that more than 500 Ukrainian athletes and coaches were killed in the war, and more than 500 sports facilities were damaged, including 16 Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic training bases.
Therefore, the Ukrainian side believes that any talk of Russia’s return to international sport is categorically unacceptable and outrageous.
“We call on the IOC and its members to remain true to Olympic values and prevent the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions as long as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine continues. We insist on maintaining and strengthening the existing sanctions against the sports federations of Russia and Belarus, as well as citizens of these countries,” the Ministry of Youth and Sports said.