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Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Photo: Ukraine Presidency / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
After talks with IOC chief Thomas Bach, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for Russia to be permanently banned from international sporting events.
"A fair answer for a terrorist state can only be its complete isolation in the international arena," said Zelenskyj after the phone call with Bach.
The principles of the Olympic movement are not compatible with those of a "terror state".
Russia should not be allowed to misuse sporting events for its propaganda purposes, Zelenskyy said in a video message distributed in Kyiv.
Since the beginning of Moscow's war of aggression on February 24, 184 Ukrainian athletes have been killed by Russian actions, Zelenskyy said.
There should therefore be no way back into world sport for Russian representatives.
The silence of the athletes, coaches and sports officials in Russia encourages aggression, Zelenskyj justified his demand.
Russian athletes should not be admitted under a neutral flag, as was recently the case as a punishment for state doping.
"We can only say one thing: a white or neutral flag is impossible for Russian athletes, all their flags are soaked in blood." had been.
Despite the war in Ukraine, an IOC Olympics summit on Friday opened the door for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international sporting competitions.
The summit participants unanimously voted to consider an application from the Asian governing body, which wants to allow athletes from the two countries to take part in its competitions.
The condition is that these athletes respect the Olympic Charter and the existing sanctions because of the Ukraine war, said the International Olympic Committee.
For the time being, however, the punitive measures against both countries should remain in place.
ara/dpa
