Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday that she does not want to see Russian athletes at the 2024 Olympics.
Speaking at the Kyiv City Council, Hidalgo told lawmakers he is against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Paris — as long as Vladimir Putin’s forces continue their offensive in Ukraine, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said in a statement Thursday.
“I want to express to you my conviction and my wish: as long as Russian forces continue to bombard you, target your civilian population and your infrastructure, while Russian troops occupy your territory, I do not want Russian athletes to compete in sports.” Hidalgo said, according to Klitschko’s statement, citing his comments.
This is my conviction as a mayor, as a political leader and as a European woman of faith. I have no doubt that the International Olympic Committee will be able to support this position,” he added.
hidalgo Inspection The Ukrainian capital is amid growing tension over the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian athletes into international competition as neutral competitors. Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Games if the IOC gives them the green light to return – and President Volodymyr Zelensky says He repeatedly criticized the IOCwhich is the final decision maker of participation.
French President Emmanuel Macron He told reporters in Brussels on Thursday He discussed the Olympics with Zelensky during the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Paris late Wednesday.
“In the summer, we will have a reassessment [of the measures regarding Russian athletes]And we will take a position depending on the situation and what is happening on the ground,” Macron said.
Banning athletes based on their passports would be discriminatory, the IOC told AP on Wednesday, citing advice from an unnamed human rights expert.
“There are no plans to have a Russian or Belarusian delegation or the flags of these countries at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games,” the Olympic organization said in a statement sent to Politico. “The only option that can be considered is individual, unbiased athletes as we saw last year at the French Open in tennis and again recently at the Australian Open in tennis and other professional sports.”