Poland, Baltic states against letting Belarusian, Russian athletes into Paris Olympics

January 31, BPN. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have voiced opposition to admitting Belarusian and Russian athletes to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

A statement to this effect was made following a meeting of the four countries’ foreign ministers in Riga, Interfax-Ukraine reported on January 31.

“We all agree that as long as Russia, with Belarus’ backing, continues the unprovoked, direct aggression against Ukraine, this step cannot be supported. It is unacceptable,” Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs said (quote rendered from Ukrainian).

The Baltic states and Poland believe that Russian and Belarusian players shouldn’t be allowed to compete even under the neutral flag, he added.

On January 30, Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk suggested creating a coalition to bar Belarus and Russia from the Olympics, noting that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) could be presented with an ultimatum.

“Poland and the UK are at the forefront of efforts to create a coalition against Russian and Belarusian participation in the 2024 Olympics,” he said (rendered from Russian).

Ukraine had warned that it may boycott the 2024 Games if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete.

On January 25, the IOC’s executive board reaffirmed the sanctions imposed against Russian and Belarusian sportspeople over hostilities in Ukraine. At the same time, it noted that “no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport.” It suggested that Russians and Belarusians may be allowed to compete if they have not supported the invasion.