2024 Paris Olympics: no Games for Russia without clarity on neutrality, more than 30 nations tell IOC
- Governments release letter on Monday calling on International Olympic Committee to define neutrality
- US, Britain, France and Germany all sign letter, which stops short of calling for boycott
The governments of more than 30 nations released a letter on Monday calling on the IOC to clarify the definition of “neutrality” as it seeks a way to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes back into international sports and, ultimately, next year’s Paris Olympics.
“As long as these fundamental issues and the substantial lack of clarity and concrete detail on a workable ‘neutrality’ model are not addressed, we do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition,” read the letter, which was obtained by The Associated Press in advance of its wider release.
Among those signing the letter were officials from the United States, Britain, France, Canada and Germany. Those five countries brought nearly one-fifth of all athletes to the Tokyo Games in 2021.
Other countries – such as Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, which had suggested an Olympic boycott was possible if the war continues – also signed onto the letter, which did not go so far as to mention a boycott.
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The letter was the product of a February 10 summit in London between government leaders, who heard from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said Russia athletes had no place at the Paris Games as long as the country’s invasion of Ukraine continues.
