Poland to boycott up to 40 countries if Russian athletes compete in Olympics
While the International Olympic Committee토토사이트 (IOC) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as “neutral athletes”, Poland strongly protested and warned of a boycott of the Paris Olympics.
According to the BBC, Poland’s Minister of Sports and Mining, Kamil Bortiničiuk, argued in an interview with the country’s state-run broadcaster on the 2nd (local time) that “up to 40 countries can boycott the Paris Olympics” and that “the Olympics could become meaningless.”
Minister Vortiničiuk said, “Next week, the very firm stance of the representatives of 40 countries will see the light,” adding, “(We) will oppose Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympics.” He stressed in particular that he believes that EU member states and the UK will be included.
Minister Vortiničiuk’s remarks were in mind of the video conference between the sports ministers of each country scheduled for the 10th. He predicted that it would be possible to form a coalition of 40 countries, including Britain, the United States and Canada, to thwart the IOC’s plan.
He also warned, “If we boycott the Olympics, the coalition we belong to will be broad enough to make holding the Olympics meaningless.”
On the same day, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint statement criticizing the IOC’s decision. In a statement, they condemned the IOC’s efforts to bring athletes from the aggressor Russia and its ally Belarus back to international competitions.
“(Russia and Belarus) use sport to legitimize their political decisions and widespread propaganda to distract from unlawful aggression against Ukraine,” the states said in a statement.
Earlier, the IOC allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as “neutral athletes” at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a statement on the 25th, the IOC explained the reason for its decision, saying, “No athlete should be barred from participating because of holding a Russian or Belarusian passport. All athletes have the right to be treated without discrimination in accordance with the Olympic Charter.” did.
