currently under examination by the IOC and how different sports bodies may ultimately take different stances on this matter. The Standing Committee of the Assembly, meeting in Riga on 25 May 2023, held a current affairs debate on this question.

6. While recognising the complexity of the issues at stake, and that views may differ on the best approach,the Assembly holds that the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Olympic and ParalympicGames in the current context is unthinkable, would certainly be used as a tool of propaganda, and wouldde facto prevent other athletes, not least Ukrainian athletes, from participating.

7. Having taken into account all perspectives and arguments raised, the Assembly is convinced that theendeavour undertaken by the IOC to establish a set of acceptable criteria allowing for the participation ofRussian and Belarusian athletes as neutral, individual competitors in the Paris Olympic and ParalympicGames cannot provide the necessary guarantees and will not constitute a response worthy of the values ofhuman dignity and peace enshrined in the Olympic Charter.

8. Past experience at the Beijing and Sochi Olympics has shown that the Russian regime is more thanready to misuse the Olympic truce. Bearing in mind that Russian and Belarusian elite athletes receive Statesalaries and are often part of military sports teams, it seems impossible that they could demonstrate theirneutrality and distance from these regimes, let alone making any declaration against the war. Indeed, athleteswishing to do so would certainly be putting themselves in a dangerous situation. Moreover, the individualdecisions of each sports body on whether or not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in therelevant competitions as neutral athletes could only lead to confusion and unequal treatment, and in recentweeks it has been shown that the Russian and Belarusian regimes will nonetheless use any victories of such“neutral” athletes in their propaganda, thus creating a narrative of acceptance and normalisation thatdownplays the gravity of the Russian and Belarusian governments’ actions.

9. Above all, the arguments for permitting participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes on the groundsof neutrality, independence of the sports movement, and non-discrimination, do not carry sufficient weightfaced with the imperative of condemning and repudiating the atrocities being committed, and of demonstratingthe international community’s complete and unwavering support for Ukraine as the onslaught continues. Byimposing the ban in response to military aggression against Ukraine, the IOC would demonstrate itscommitment to upholding the values of the Olympic Games, foster the pursuit of peaceful solutions toconflicts, and send a clear message to the Russian and Belarusian governments that their actions haveconsequences and that the international community stands in solidarity with Ukraine. The Ukrainian fight forfreedom is our fight; this should not be forgotten or overlooked, and should continue to guide our responses tothe Russian war of aggression.

10. The Assembly therefore:

10.1. strongly urges national IOC representatives and national and international sports federations toexpress their opposition to the IOC’s proposal to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate,even as “neutral athletes” in the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic games;

10.2. calls on the IOC and its constituent sports bodies to maintain the position expressed in 2022,and to prohibit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Olympic and ParalympicGames and in all other major sporting events, for as long as the war of aggression continues. Such aban can only enhance and further promote the worthy objectives of peace and equality embodied bythe Olympic Movement and by sport in general. It does not weaken or blur the independence andvalues of sport.

Resolution 2507 (2023)

II SÉRIE-D — NÚMERO 16_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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