Ukraine steps up efforts to exclude Russia from Olympics

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By HANNA ARHIROVA today

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine stepped up efforts Friday to lobby international sports leaders against Russian participation in next year’s Paris Olympics as indications mount that the games could see the biggest boycott since the Cold War.

A meeting of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee did not commit to a boycott but approved plans to consult with and persuade sports officials around the world over the next two months.

The committee members voted for “consultations on preventing the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in all international competitions and a possible boycott.”

The International Olympic Committee is pushing to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the 2024 Paris Games. They would take part without their national flags or anthems as “neutral athletes.”



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-sports-protests-and-demonstrations-2024-paris-olympic-games-a5c3fe30a9c249175f9f4d565cfeabd4

[republianmushroom]

1. like it

[tornado34jh]

2. I don't believe the IOC will do anything

I would love to believe they would, but again, they say money talks. Just like with FIFA, it is corrupted by money, and I will bet you they get a lot of money from Russia. While I agree with Ukraine on this, I just don't know how the IOC will change. They didn't bar Russia for doping in the last Olympics, and I don't believe they did in 2016. If they can't enforce their own rules (some of which I think is ridiculous), how can anyone believe that they will do that? I can just see that athletes from Ukraine and Russia fighting in the Olympics, and it will not be a good look.

[Justice matters.]

6. If so, the entire NATO countries should show solidarity with Ukraine and boycott...

Paris 2024 (with no athletes from France included).

That will teach a lesson the greedy IOC leadership won't forget...

[tornado34jh]

7. Well, the IOC has not been particularly friendly with certain countries

Particularly the United States. I think particularly with the criticism (rightly, I might add) when China/Russia hosted the Olympics. But then again, the question is, what will France do? They host it, and again, hosting the Olympics is planned well ahead. I don't know what the process is if a host boycotts their own Olympics.

[Justice matters.]

8. Just by threatening the greedy IOC leadership, I predict these a-holes will fold.

Out Russia.
Out Belarus.
In Ukraine.
In NATO countries.
Problem solved.

Enough pandering to Fascist war-criminals demands or needs. Enough.

[tornado34jh]

9. I agree with that

While we are at it, maybe include China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, any of the theocratic governments in the Middle East, and some others that should be excluded from the Olympics. The whole idea of "Olympic Spirit" is meaningless if they can't do that.

[Justice matters.]

10. Let's start with the terrorist states first:

The ones targeting civilians, nursing hospitals, hospitals, elderly homes, appartment buildings, train stations, and threatening to nuke London and New York, Washington, LA, et al...

[tornado34jh]

11. First up would be Russia, Belarus, North Korea and Iran

Then Saudi Arabia, China, and then we go from there. But first things first, we need to start with Russia and their war enablers (China, Belarus and Iran).

[Bayard]

3. Problem is,

You ban one terrorist nation, you have to ban them all. Like Saudi Arabia. The Olympic Comm. is not going to get into what they see, as politics.

[tornado34jh]

5. Except it always has been political

Sports and politics go hand in hand, and have been since ancient times. But again, it's about money. If they had any morals, they would do that, but then they would lose a whole ton of money. Given the choice, they will always go for the money. Like many international organizations, corruption is not in short supply there.

[blue-wave]

4. Ukraine should lead an

international boycott of the Olympics. If not, we'll see more of this (neutral country my ass):