“It cannot be allowed that a terrorist state uses sports to promote its political interests and propaganda.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Thomas Bach about sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach met with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and spoke about sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
source: president.gov.ua
“More than a hundred thousand Ukrainian athletes do not have the opportunity of training. Hundreds of sports facilities were destroyed: these are both large sports infrastructure facilities and facilities based on Ukrainian schools, universities and sports clubs.” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
In addition, according to the President, many Ukrainian athletes joined the Armed Forces to defend our country on the front. To date, 89 athletes and coaches died as a result of hostilities, 13 were captured and are in Russian captivity.
The President of Ukraine and the President of the IOC drew attention to the need to continue international efforts to prevent representatives of the terrorist state from participating in international sports competitions.
“It cannot be allowed that a terrorist state uses sports to promote its political interests and propaganda. I am grateful to Mr. President for his unwavering position regarding the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from official competitions under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee. While Russia is trying to destroy the Ukrainian people and conquer other European countries, its representatives have no place in the world’s sports community,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
For his part, the President of the IOC assured the Head of State of his unchanged position regarding the continuation of the policy of recommendations to international federations not to invite Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions.
“The time has not yet come to lift such a ban,” Thomas Bach emphasized.
The President of the IOC noted that today’s meeting at such a difficult time for Ukraine is evidence that our country remains committed to the values of sports.
Thomas Bach also emphasized that he came to Kyiv to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people, in particular with athletes.
“They are not alone with their troubles, we are on their side, we stand side by side with them and support them with our heart, soul, thoughts and deeds. We support them in a way to be able to see a strong, successful, proud Ukrainian national Olympic team at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris and the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina,” he said.
In particular, the IOC has tripled the support fund established since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and now it amounts to USD 7.5 million. According to Thomas Bach, this makes it possible to support more than 3 thousand members of the Olympic movement, Olympic athletes in Ukraine or those who are abroad.
That Zelenskyy Guy is the most annoying person ever. Why does he constantly get a platform to give his opinion on everything?
Rofl
Lol
Mr. Bach what about banning Israel for killing millions of Palestine people because they do not have blue / green eyes , white skins, ? What about banning USA for killing millions in Iraq Libya And many other countries ? Yes also what US did to remove the previous Leader of the Ukraine ? It is pathetic that you called yourself a first world people !
Then, if that’s how the IOC feels, then just ban the ENTIRE ATHLETE COMPETITIVE programs. What is the point, if athletes, who have NOTHING to do with politics or political decisions, if athletes from other countries do not have a world pool to compete against? THERE IS NO POINT.
The IOC forgets easily the 2014 Coup D’etat the USA executed in Kiev, thanks to Victoria Nuland and the Dept. of Defense. Was that moral? Was that fair to remove a duly elected President of Ukraine just because he wanted to do business with Russia instead of the EU?
There is autopsy evidence the US had CIA shooters on building tops in Kiev killing both police & protestors. I ask you why? And, the USA never wanted missiles in Cuba, so why do they think Russia would want missiles on their border? None of this is fair, especially to the athletes of Russia who have done NOTHING to the US or UK or Ukraine!