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Olympic Logo in Tokyo (December 2020)
Photo: Eugene Hoshiko / dpa
The Italian athletes are allowed to compete at the Olympic Games in Tokyo with their own flag and national anthem.
As the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, announced after an executive meeting, no sanctions will be imposed on the Italian team.
The IOC had previously criticized that the National Olympic Committee of Italy (Coni) was not independent enough from the state.
The background to the dispute is an order of the center-right government in Italy, which founded the company Sport e Salute (sport and health) in 2018 and transferred tasks to it from Coni.
From the perspective of the IOC, the association was no longer independent enough from state control.
The IOC had long called for changes that Italy had not complied with until the end.
Therefore, sanctions could have been imposed.
As a result, Italy could have competed in the Tokyo Games, which are due to start on July 23, without a flag and anthem.
It was only on Tuesday that the Italian government guaranteed the association more autonomy by passing a decree - shortly before the start of the IOC's executive session.
The IOC then announced that it would take the decree into account at the meeting.
Bach rejects criticism of the Olympics
But not only possible sanctions against Italy were discussed by the executive.
After the meeting, Bach rejected criticism of the efforts to host the Summer Games.
"It is certainly not irresponsible," said the IOC chief.
Bach referred to the plans for various corona measures and the large number of international sporting events that have already been held in recent months.
The IOC is "fully focused and committed" to playing the games.
"There is speculation about a rejection, about a plan B, about everything," said Bach.
“Some even suggest that the games be postponed to 2032.
Tell this to an athlete who is preparing, ”said Bach.
What the major event should look like in the corona crisis should be described in so-called scripts to the participants.
The instructions should state how the participants "can protect themselves and others," said Bach.
"The first edition of the scripts will be published soon, there is a constant update."
As planned, around 11,000 athletes are to start in Tokyo.
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hba / dpa / sid