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GuardianDec 04, 2023
Olympics: Russian, Belarusian Athletes Gain Support From Sports Bodies
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The Facts
Athletes from Russia and Belarus on Tuesday moved closer to being able to compete at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris after representatives of several international sports federations and national Olympic committees voiced their support at the Olympic Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began days after the 2022 Beijing Winter Games concluded, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has struggled with what to do about athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus.
The Spin
Narrative A
It's concerning that the IOC would risk violating its dedication to fairness and justice by allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes, under any circumstances, to compete on the world’s biggest athletic stage. Russian athletes may not be directly linked to their country’s transgressions, but they’re not separated by too many steps. A ruling on athletes due to global geopolitical factors is warranted.
Narrative B
While it's understandable that the IOC wants to show support for Ukrainian athletes, it should not do so at the expense of Russian and Belarusian athletes. Such exclusions would amount to discrimination based on nationality and would violate the Olympic Charter and international human rights standards.