The Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund has published its position on the issue of possible admission of representatives of Russia and Belarus to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

According to the foundation, there are more than 30 athletes among political prisoners in Belarus:

"The regimes of Russia and Belarus have launched a war against Ukraine, and are also subjecting their own citizens to large-scale repression.

At the same time, it is not the first time that the Russian regime violates the Olympic truce, and Belarus has become the world leader in terms of the number of political prisoners in proportion to the population.

There are more than 30 athletes among political prisoners in Belarus.

Hundreds of Belarusian athletes and coaches were forced to leave the country, dozens lost the opportunity to perform at the Olympic Games because of their civil status."

The BFSS named the conditions under which athletes with Belarusian or Russian citizenship should be admitted to the Olympics:

  • Absence of anthems, flags and other elements of national symbols;

  • Public condemnation of the actions of the Russian and Belarusian regimes;

  • Lack of support from the state, including persons related to it;

  • No admission of official representatives, functionaries, propagandists of the two countries.

On December 9, the declaration of the 11th Olympic Summit was approved, at which the majority of participants agreed that sanctions against the states and governments of Russia and Belarus, guilty of gross violations of the Olympic Truce and the Olympic Charter, should remain in force.

These sanctions include:

  • a ban on holding international sports competitions organized or supported by the IOC or National Olympic Committees in Russia or Belarus.

  • No flags, anthems, colors or any other symbols of these states are displayed at any water sports event or meeting.

  • Sanctions also include the unprecedented decision of the IOC to revoke Olympic orders from the president and vice-prime minister of Russia.

On February 28, four days after the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine, including from the territory of Belarus, the International Olympic Committee called on international sports federations not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete.

On October 16, it became known that Belarusian and Russian athletes will not be able to participate in the 2023 European Games, which will be held in Polish cities.

In July, it became known that in connection with the sanctions introduced for Russia's attack on Ukraine and Belarus' role in military aggression, Belarusian and Russian athletes risk missing the XXXIII Summer Olympic Games, which will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

For example, the men's and women's volleyball teams were not allowed to qualify for the Games.

Later, the Paralympic Committee suspended Belarus' membership in the organization.

The Belarusian Sports Solidarity Fund previously expressed the hope that Belarusian athletes who condemned Russian aggression would be allowed to compete at the Olympics under a neutral (Olympic) flag, but there are no developments in this matter yet, and no one has officially announced the preparation of such an opportunity for Belarusian athletes.