IOC rejects criticism of Russian and Belarusian participation in Olympics

The International Olympic Committee said so in a statement to Reuters.

IOC chief Thomas Bach decided to be friendly with Russian and Belarusian athletes and invited them to the 2024 Olympics under a neutral flag, a decision that has been met with criticism.

For example, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podolyak said at the weekend that the IOC promotes "violence, mass murder and destruction", and on Monday said that Russia's presence at the Games would mean giving the country "a platform to promote genocide".

The IOC has responded to this criticism:

The IOC rejects this and other defamatory statements in the strongest possible terms. They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion.

It is worth noting that Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has already informed Olympians that many Russian athletes have links to the military, including playing for sports clubs affiliated with the Russian Defence Ministry. However, this argument is not enough for the IOC either.

Furthermore, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba invited IOC President Thomas Bach and other sports functionaries to Druzhkivka, where the Russians smashed up the Altair ice arena, back in early January.