The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommends that international sports federations and the hosts of competitions not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to enter, and also prohibit the participation of officials from the two countries.
This decision was made by the IOC Executive Board on Monday. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) will take a position on the issue on Wednesday, with the Beijing Winter Paralympics starting on Friday.
After Russia launched an operation against Ukraine, Ukrainian athletes wrote to the IOC and the IPC asking them to ban their Russian and Belarusian member organizations and not allow the athletes to take part in any sporting events.
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine, supported by Belarus, is a clear violation of the Olympic and Paralympic Charter. An act that must have severe consequences," Thomas Bach wrote in an open letter to IPC President Andrew Parsons.
(Source: Source: sportrajongo.hu, mti / Photo: pixabay, mti)