https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230711/destructive-minority-moscow-on-wests-attempts-to-ban-russian-olympics-athletes-1060471867.html
'Destructive Minority': Moscow on West's Attempts to Ban Russian Olympics Athletes
'Destructive Minority': Moscow on West's Attempts to Ban Russian Olympics Athletes
Sputnik Africa
As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mulls the possibility of allowing athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to compete in the upcoming... 11.07.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-07-11T16:10+0200
2023-07-11T16:10+0200
2023-08-03T10:50+0200
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The "destructive minority" represented by the West's institutions is opposing the position of the majority while breaching international law in its attempts to prohibit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for 2024, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. In particular, the Russian official pointed out that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) continues to advocate for "illegal resolutions" demanding a "total ban" on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the event. According to Zakharova, these demands violate the Olympic Charter, Declaration of Berlin, several resolutions of the UN General Assembly, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the same time, she said, "the absolute majority of the world" continues to adhere to the principles of the Olympic Movement.The spokeswoman recalled that the Non-Aligned Movement, a forum of 120 countries that refuse to join any power bloc, adopted a special declaration of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau calling for the participation of all national teams at the Olympic Games in Paris.In the declaration, the nations emphasized that sport should be free from politicization, while sports organizations within the Olympic Movement should maintain neutrality as stipulated in the Olympic Charter. Thus, it was noted that the participation of athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees "would be a strong symbol of unity of humanity." Following the adoption of the declaration initiated by the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, IOC President Thomas Bach thanked the Non-Aligned Movement for its support, noting that the organization is "encouraged by this strong commitment to the unifying mission of the Olympic Games." The IOC is now considering the possibility of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris as "neutral athletes", with a final decision expected to be announced soon.Meanwhile, the PACE urged the IOC to prohibit their participation in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for July 26 - August 11 and August 28 - September 8, respectively. Moreover, the assembly called on the Olympic Committee to bar the athletes from all other major sporting events as long as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
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russia, maria zakharova, sport, olympics, anti-russian sanctions, foreign ministry, international
russia, maria zakharova, sport, olympics, anti-russian sanctions, foreign ministry, international
'Destructive Minority': Moscow on West's Attempts to Ban Russian Olympics Athletes
16:10 11.07.2023 (Updated: 10:50 03.08.2023) As the International Olympic Committee (IOC) mulls the possibility of allowing athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to compete in the upcoming Olympic Games, European authorities are calling for a ban.
The "destructive minority" represented by the West's institutions is opposing the position of the majority while breaching international law in its attempts to prohibit the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for 2024, said
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
In particular, the Russian official pointed out that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) continues to advocate for "illegal resolutions" demanding a "total ban" on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the event.
According to Zakharova, these demands violate the Olympic Charter, Declaration of Berlin, several resolutions of the UN General Assembly, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the same time, she said, "the absolute majority of the world" continues to adhere to the principles of the Olympic Movement.
"If the West advocates for democracy, then it must accept the will of the majority based on international law," she stressed.
The spokeswoman recalled that the Non-Aligned Movement, a forum of 120 countries that refuse to join any power bloc,
adopted a special declaration of the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau calling for the participation of all national teams at the Olympic Games in Paris.
In the declaration, the nations emphasized that sport should be free from politicization, while
sports organizations within the Olympic Movement should maintain neutrality as stipulated in the Olympic Charter. Thus, it was noted that the participation of athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees "would be a strong symbol of unity of humanity."
Following the adoption of the declaration initiated by the president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, IOC President Thomas Bach
thanked the Non-Aligned Movement for its support, noting that the organization is "encouraged by this strong commitment to the unifying mission of the Olympic Games."
The IOC is now considering the possibility of allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in Paris as "neutral athletes", with a final decision expected to be announced soon.
Meanwhile, the PACE
urged the IOC to prohibit their participation in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games scheduled for July 26 - August 11 and August 28 - September 8, respectively. Moreover, the assembly called on the Olympic Committee to bar the athletes from all other major sporting events as long as the conflict in Ukraine continues.
