Germany advocates for thorough checks of Russian and Belarusian athletes before admission to Olympics

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has called for a thorough check of each individual athlete from Russia and Belarus amid the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow representatives of these countries to participate in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics under a neutral flag. Source: DW, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "The IOC and international federations must ensure the consistent suspension of those Russian and Belarusian athletes who in any way support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine or are in any way connected to the Russian government and the Russian military," she said.

Details: Faeser said it is absolutely unacceptable that Ukrainian athletes should be forced to compete against the Russians who support Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

"Ukraine and Ukrainian sport should further enjoy the full support and solidarity from the world sport," Faeser stressed. Earlier, the IOC recommended that some Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to participate in the Paris Olympics under a neutral flag, provided they do not actively support the war against Ukraine and are not affiliated with their countries' security forces or national teams. The demonstration of Russian and Belarusian flags and other symbols of the two countries is also not allowed in the official venues of the Games.

No official representatives of Russia and Belarus will be invited to the Olympics. The Russian Ministry of Sport was outraged by these conditions and complained of discrimination against Russian athletes. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry considers the decision of the International Olympic Committee's Executive Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions in a neutral status a mistake.

The Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and his Lithuanian counterpart Gabrielius Landsbergis also criticised the decision of the International Olympic Committee.

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