IOC Chief Says Sees 'Encouraging' Signs Regarding Return Of Russian, Belarusian Athletes
Muhammad Rameez Published December 30, 2022 | 12:00 AM
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th December, 2022) International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said Thursday in his New Year's message that he is seeing encouraging signs regarding the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions as more world leaders begin to speak out in favor of the Olympic unity.
"In addition to the sanctions, we had to take protective measures to ensure the integrity of international sport competitions. This led the IOC to act against our own mission, our mission to unify the entire world in peaceful competition, since we had to prohibit athletes from participation because of their passport alone. Thankfully, there have been in the meantime many encouraging statements and declarations from a number of individual world leaders supporting our unifying Olympic mission," Bach said in his address.
The adoption of the resolution "Sport as an enabler of sustainable development" by the UN General Assembly, which includes Russia and Ukraine, stands out in this regard, the IOC president noted.
"Such encouraging signs of support give us all the more reason to promote our unifying mission with our full determination, and it gives us hope that it will bring us closer to being able to once again fully live up to the mission of sport � to unite the entire world in peaceful competition," Bach added.
Earlier in December, the Olympic Summit agreed that the IOC should consider an initiative by the Olympic Council of Asia to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who respect the Olympic Charter and sanctions to compete in Asian tournaments.
On February 28, the IOC issued a recommendation to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from international competitions or only allow them to compete in neutral status in response to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
HDA Mehran workers demand salaries
Taxila police nab motorcycle lifter gang
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
Walk held in a series of enrollment campaigns
Team from Gaza mediator Egypt arrives in Israel for truce talks
Kids murders: IHC orders psychiatric examination of mother
WB director, Planning minister discuss reforms in development projects
Sindh home minister chairs law and order meeting
Bakht Kakar orders to ensure maximum facilities in livestock sector
NEPRA concludes hearing into FCA of DISCOs for March
Junta-led Burkina Faso suspends BBC, Voice of America for two weeks
Chairman COPHC lauds MoMA’s efforts at Gwadar Port, Free Zone
More Stories From Sports
-
Inter-university weightlifting championship kicks off at SAU
43 seconds ago -
Football: Italian Serie A table
1 hour ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
2 hours ago -
New Zealand cricket CEO visits PSCA, expresses satisfaction over security arrangements
2 hours ago -
Asia Cricket Week from April 28
3 hours ago -
Spanish football federation appoints Rocha as president
5 hours ago
-
Father, son killed in firing
9 hours ago -
Victor Boniface: Leverkusen boss Alonso makes you 'up your game'
12 hours ago -
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable victory over UAE
16 hours ago -
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
22 hours ago -
National Hockey camp to be organized for Azlan Shah tournament
23 hours ago -
Islamabad Tennis Club demolished by CDA amid anti-encroachment action at public park: Tarar
1 day ago