The Finnish Olympic Committee has strongly expressed its opinion in the direction of the IOC. On Wednesday, the IOC board will discuss the position of Russians and Belarusians in international sports
The position of the Finnish Olympic Committee is that Russians and Belarusians cannot currently be included in international sports activities. The board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will discuss the position of Russians and Belarusians in international sports on Wednesday this week.
Chairman of the Finnish Olympic Committee Jan Vapaavuori says that the Olympic Committee has expressed its opinion strongly in the direction of the IOC as well. The Finnish Olympic Committee has discussed the issue directly with the president of the IOC by Thomas Bach with.
– We participated in the IOC’s telephone consultation, where information was shared. Before the event, Finland presented its position to the IOC in writing. We do not support the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitive activities at this stage, Vapaavuori said in the press release of the Finnish Olympic Committee.
CEO of the Olympic Committee Taina Susiluoto points out that if the IOC nevertheless decides to promote the return of Russians and Belarusians to international sports, it must take place with the strictest possible conditions.
– The majority of countries in the world seem to be ready to test the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes as neutral athletes. If this happens, we require strict conditions: the sanctions on the sports systems of the countries in question must still be kept in force, and individual athletes could only return as neutral athletes without national emblems, Susiluoto stated.
– National emblems and expressions of opinion must not be allowed among the public either, and the international sports community must continue to support Ukraine. In addition, it must be ensured that the athletes who receive a return permit have been tested sufficiently comprehensively for doping before participating in the competitions.
The IOC has not yet made a decision on the matter, but the Nordic countries’ viewpoints seem to remain in the minority in the discussion.
– We are waiting for official decisions and their boundary conditions and will comment on the matter after consulting our Nordic colleagues, Susiluoto said.
– Our main task is to guarantee Finnish athletes peace to prepare for the Paris Olympic qualifiers without them having to suffer from the situation. We are monitoring the development of the situation and doing influence work with all possible means. The Olympic selections will be held at the end of this year at the earliest, Susiluoto reminds.