Decision to admit Russians to 2024 Olympics qualifications possible no earlier than in mid-Jan 2023 - ROC head

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) may adjust its recommendations to admit Russian and Belarusian athletes to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games qualifications, Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Stanislav Pozdnyakov said.

"My confidence derives from the Olympic Summit declaration of December 9. It says that the summit supports the proposal of the Olympic Council of Asia that Russian and Belarusian athletes return to competitions under Asian jurisdiction. The IOC will consider this proposal, and conference calls with national Olympic committees, international federations, athletes' commissions and IOC members will be arranged. In the end, it will be decided to update the recommendations of February 2022," Pozdnyakov said at a press conference on Tuesday.

"This gives me reason to assume with a high degree of probability that our athletes will soon be able to participate in competitions, including Olympic qualifications. The issue will be studied from one federation to another. Each particular case will be addressed individually," he said.

Given the upcoming holiday season, the decision will be made "no earlier than in the second half of January," Pozdnyakov said.

The IOC recommended in February 2022 that international sport federations bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions over the Ukraine situation. Most federations followed the IOC's recommendations.