Russian Athletes At Olympics A “Manifestation Of Violence”, Says Zelensky

Zelensky argued that not many Russian athletes had spoken out in opposition to the struggle.

Kyiv:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has known as for a boycott of the 2024 Paris Olympics over the doable participation of Russian athletes, stated Friday their presence can be a “manifestation of violence.”

“The mere presence of representatives of the terrorist state is a manifestation of violence and lawlessness,” Zelensky advised a digital summit of sports activities ministers chaired from London.

“And it can’t be lined up with some pretended neutrality or a white flag,” Zelensky stated.

The Worldwide Olympic Committee stated final month it was exploring a “pathway” to permit Russian and Belarusian opponents to participate within the Paris Olympics, below a impartial flag.

Ukraine has reacted furiously, threatening to tug out of the Video games and Zelensky argued that Russian athletes had “no place” in Paris.

“If the Olympic sports activities had been killings and missile strikes, then you recognize which nationwide crew would occupy the primary place,” he added.

Zelensky argued that not many Russian athletes had spoken out in opposition to the struggle.

“There may be nearly no such condemnation,” he stated. “There are only some remoted voices which can be shortly fading away.

“If Russian athletes are allowed to take part in any competitions or the Olympic Video games, it only a matter of time earlier than the terrorist state forces them to play together with the struggle propaganda,” Zelensky added.

“Russia is now a rustic that stains every little thing with blood – even the white flag.”

Not less than 228 Ukrainian athletes and coaches died throughout the Russian invasion, Zelensky stated.

Worldwide Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach stated Ukraine’s menace to boycott went in opposition to the “ideas” of the Olympic motion.

In a letter to the Ukrainian Nationwide Olympic Committee made public on Thursday, Bach added that Ukraine’s efforts in “pressuring” different international locations to boycott the 2024 Paris Video games was “extraordinarily regrettable”.

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