2022-10-01 14:36:01

Bach said that the IOC considered letting Russian

According to Reuters, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Tobakh said on September 30 that IOC was considering returning Russian athletes who "did not support Russia's invasion of Ukraine". The report mentioned that the International Olympic Committee had put forward guidance and suggestions in February, urging the organizers to remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from the competition.

According to the latest report of Reuters, Bach said in an interview with Italian media that the IOC's latest consideration "does not mean that Russia (athletes) must return. It is about returning athletes who hold Russian passports but do not support the war", "The dilemma now is that the war was not initiated by Russian athletes. But we see that some governments are unwilling to respect the autonomy of international sports any more... This is why we have to take these protective measures (put forward guidance and suggestions), and at least some autonomy can be left, rather than losing all autonomy." Bach said.

In addition, Bach also said that, on the other hand, this is why IOC needs to wait and see, study and consider, at what time and in what form, all people can return to the game again.

Reuters said that Bach stressed that at present, the IOC's guidance on Russian athletes is still valid, but he added that the IOC also needs to look into the future. The report mentioned that at present, some qualifying events for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games have started.

Bach said that an important mission of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to peace. "I think our main contribution is to host the Olympic Games and reshape sports as a whole into something that can unite human beings".

According to "Russia Today" (RT), Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matchin criticized the comprehensive sanctions imposed on the Russian sports arena at the international level since the Russian Ukrainian conflict at a sports forum in Kemerovo state on September 29 local time. Matchin said, "I am sure that the world sports community has realized that their expulsion of Russian athletes and their deprivation of Russia's qualification to host international competitions have harmed themselves".