The new leader of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee reiterated the federation’s support for finding a way russian athlete to compete in paris Olympics as neutral, while insisting on existing sanctions against the country.
Jean Sykes, who took over for Suzanne Lyons as USOPC president on January 1, wrote a letter to athletes and other US stakeholders last week after the International Olympic Committee announced it would prepare a way for some Russians to compete. Trying to move forward. He has been banned from most major international competitions since the invasion of the country. ukraine last february.
Sykes wrote in his letter, “After listening to the many athletes and constituents across the United States, we recognize the genuine desire to compete against all the best athletes in the world – but only when it can be done in a way that allows for safe and fair play.” To be sure.” , which was obtained by The Associated Press.
The USOPC was involved in meetings in December in which the IOC first mooted the idea of having the Russians participate as neutrals. The IOC emphasized that it does not want Russians to be punished simply because of where they are from, but neither does it want to include athletes who have supported the war.
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Shortly after the December meeting, Lyons said that the USOPC had signed off on the plan, although he expressed doubt that the IOC would be able to create a system to determine which of the hundreds of Russian athletes supported or opposed the war. Was doing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has lobbied French President Emmanuel Macron not to allow Russians in the Paris Games. Zelensky insisted in a recent one-night address to the nation that Russian athletes should not be allowed to participate.
Sykes acknowledged in his letter that the USOPC remains in solidarity with Ukraine and its athletes, and has “very real concern, even doubt, whether[the conditions]have been met” for allowing the Russians. can be expressed”.
“As such, we encourage the IOC to continue exploring a process that maintains the current sanctions, with only neutral athletes welcome to compete,” Sykes wrote. “This process will require careful management and additional efforts to earn the trust and confidence of our community.”
Sykes’ letter, sent last Thursday, comes as more countries rail against the framework the IOC is considering, which would allow some athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete provided they don their country’s flag, colors or anthem. have no representation. ,
On Wednesday, the Korean Olympic Committee said it wanted further clarification from Asia’s top sports organizing body, which has invited Russia to compete in Olympic qualifiers this year – a move that would see Russia compete in European qualifying events at its usual European qualifying events. Will remove it from the place and South Korea may also be costly. Korean Spot in the Games.
The day before, David Shoemaker, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee, said, “If the war continues in 18 months this whole situation will look very different.”
In response to the IOC’s announcement last week, UK Culture Secretary Michelle Donnellan said, “I want to be clear that this IOC position is far removed from the reality of the war being felt by the people of Ukraine.”
Latvia’s leaders have threatened to boycott the Olympics if Russia is allowed. Meanwhile, when the head of Russia’s Olympic Committee sounded optimistic about his country possibly getting some athletes to Paris, the IOC reacted strongly with a statement that “the Russian and Belarusian states and governments Sanctions are not negotiable.”
In his letter, Sykes acknowledged that it was an “incredibly complex situation” and that media coverage of it had been misleading.
“If these conditions of neutrality and safe, fair and fair competition can be met, we are confident that the spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games can prevail. This will remain our guiding focus,” he wrote.
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