Controversy Surrounding Olympic Participation of Russian and Belarusian Athletes Amid Ukraine Conflict
With less than a year remaining until the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games, the question of whether athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete is stirring up heated debate. Both countries have faced criticism for their involvement in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which complicates their potential participation in the games.
Efforts to secure the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes who have been excluded from international competitions are emerging. In March of this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that such athletes be allowed to compete on a neutral basis, provided they refrain from expressing support for Russia’s invasion and do not use national flags or anthems.
The upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, scheduled for September 23 this year, will offer 500 individual spots for neutral athletes from Russia and Belarus. This presents an opportunity for these athletes to qualify for the Paris Games.
The IOC President, Thomas Bach, has expressed the view that no athlete should be barred from participating in the Olympics solely based on their passport. He emphasizes the need to distinguish between states and individuals, which aligns with the Olympic Charter that states, The Olympic Games are competitions between athletes in individual or team events and not between countries.
However, behind this idealistic principle, the intertwined nature of the Olympics and politics remains evident. Russian and Belarusian athletes have enjoyed extensive state support under the authoritarian regimes in their respective countries. Russia has faced numerous doping scandals linked to a state-led athlete enhancement system. In the 2020 Tokyo Games, a female Belarusian track-and-field athlete was ordered by her country to return home, but she defied the order and sought asylum in Poland.
In May, both Russian and Belarusian neutral athletes were permitted to participate in the World Judo Championships. However, the Ukrainian Judo Federation boycotted the competition, arguing that the majority of Russian athletes had military connections.
Vadym Guttsait, the President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, maintains that while the war in Ukraine continues, athletes from Russia and Belarus should not be allowed to compete internationally. He questions the meaning of neutral and points out that these athletes have failed to speak out against the conflict.
The IOC intends to delay a decision on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes until its session in October or later. Depending on the outcome, Ukrainian athletes may choose to boycott the Games. If other countries follow suit, global divisions could potentially widen.
Boycotts and political tensions are not new to the Olympics. In 1980, Japan and other Western nations boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympic Games to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. In retaliation, Eastern countries abstained from participating in the Los Angeles Olympics four years later.
Throughout history, the Olympics have often been influenced by political strife and wars. Prior to World War II, Nazi Germany exploited the games to enhance its national prestige. Tokyo was set to host the 1940 Summer Olympics following the 1936 Berlin Games, but Japan relinquished its hosting rights due to escalating conflict in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Helsinki was then designated as the host, but the event was eventually canceled due to the outbreak of World War II.
The current dilemma regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes echoes the situation during that time. In July, during the world fencing championships, a Ukrainian athlete refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent, resulting in her disqualification.
Given that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has persisted for over a year and a half, resulting in increasing civilian casualties, it is imperative to achieve a cease-fire for the Games to truly embody the spirit of peace and global unity. The international community and the IOC must reassess the significance of the Olympics and create an environment in which athletes can competently and amicably compete with one another.
