African Olympic committees on Saturday handed a decision endorsing the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutrals on the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in January laid out a manner for Russian and Belarusian athletes to earn Olympic spots by Asian qualifying occasions and compete as neutrals with no flag or anthem.
Athletes from these nations have been banned from many worldwide competitions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, however some worldwide federations are actually permitting them to return following steerage from the IOC.
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) handed its decision following a gathering in Nouakchott, Mauritania, with the physique’s president, Moustafa Bayraf, saying it “aligned with the position of the IOC”.
“The members came out unanimously in favor of the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in all international competitions,” ANOCA stated in an announcement.
“Thus it will likely be a query of permitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part within the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in full neutrality with none indication of identification.
“… politics cannot overpower sports and take back all its noblest values ​​revolving around peace, unity and solidarity… Athletes should not pay the heavy price of the struggle in any case , whatever it may be and wherever it may be.”
Ukraine and its Eastern European and Baltic neighbors are calling for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned from Paris 2024 whereas Russian troops proceed their invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special operation”. Belarus has been a serious staging space for the invasion.
In February, greater than 30 nations, together with the United States, Britain and France, voiced their assist for banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from worldwide competitions.
Ukraine has additionally threatened to boycott the Olympics over Russia’s participation.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
