The International Olympic Committee’s decision on the possibility of the return of Russians and Belarusians to competition in individual sports under a neutral flag during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics

Written declaration No. 766 | Doc. 15736 | 09 May 2023

Signatories:

Mr Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, Poland, EC/DA ; Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Ms Iwona ARENT, Poland, EC/DA ; Mr Erkin GADIRLI, Azerbaijan, EC/DA ; Mr Paul GALLES, Luxembourg, EPP/CD ; Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Mr Marcin GWÓŹDŹ, Poland, EC/DA ; Mr Mogens JENSEN, Denmark, SOC ; Mr Serhii KALCHENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Ms Zanda KALNIŅA-LUKAŠEVICA, Latvia, EPP/CD ; Ms Olena KHOMENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Mr Tomasz LATOS, Poland, EC/DA ; Mr Oleksandr MEREZHKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Daniel MILEWSKI, Poland, EC/DA ; Ms Olena MOSHENETS, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Dmytro NATALUKHA, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Ms Aušrinė NORKIENĖ, Lithuania, SOC ; Mr Aleksander POCIEJ, Poland, EPP/CD ; Mr Indrek SAAR, Estonia, SOC ; Ms Katarzyna SÓJKA, Poland, EC/DA ; Ms Rita TAMAŠUNIENĖ, Lithuania, EC/DA ; Ms Lesia VASYLENKO, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This written declaration does not reflect the position of the Assembly; only of those members that have signed it. It will not be considered further by the Assembly.

We, the undersigned, declare the following:

Following the decision of the International Olympic Committee, taken on 28 March 2023, on the possibility for Russians and Belarusians to return to competition in individual sports under a neutral flag if they have not actively supported the war in Ukraine and are not associated with the military, we would like to strongly protest against such plans and we remain firmly opposed to any decision that would allow athletes from these States to participate in international competitions. This is an attempt to legitimise the political decisions taken by these countries and to divert attention from the illegal war against Ukraine.

We believe that the IOC’s scandalous and shocking decision will be remembered as a day of disgrace and shame for the IOC. Sport plays an incredibly important role in building awareness and this shameful decision will provide an opportunity for these two countries to spread their propaganda again. We protest very strongly against this decision, as we recognise it as a step that will allow others to accept and become accustomed to the cruel war that Russia has launched against Ukraine and therefore, against the entire free world.

We call on the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers and the member States of the Organisation to condemn in the strongest possible terms the IOC’s decision to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian athletes into the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.