Russian sports minister speaks against boycotting Olympics

MOSCOW. March 22 (Interfax) - Russia cannot boycott the 2024 Olympics in Paris, a decision on participation in the competitions should be made by the athletes, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said at the Integration 2024: Prospects of Development of New Territories forum.

"Sport should be free from discrimination. We have been under unprecedented pressure from international sports for two years. We can't categorically boycott the Olympics and make the athletes who have become qualified to go there not go there. But at the same time we should not cross the borderlines and sign documents that contradict Russian laws. We will prepare recommendations in the near future, but a decision on participation will be made by the athletes," Match TV quoted Matytsin as saying.

This year's Olympics are not the main competition for Russia, unlike the BRICS Games and the Friendship Games, he said.

In December 2023, the IOC decided to allow individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Under the admission criteria, Russian and Belarusian passport holders can only compete as individual neutral athletes and are banned from team events. Athletes and support staff, who have actively expressed their support for the special military operation in Ukraine or are members of the armed forces or security agencies in their countries are also prohibited from competing in the Olympics.

Officials from Russia and Belarus will be barred from the Olympics. In addition, athletes will be required to undergo an anti-doping process and sign the new participation requirements, which include a promise to respect the Olympic charter.