"The IOC strongly denies this and other defamatory claims.

They cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion," the International Olympic Committee said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

Earlier, the IOC called to admit representatives of Russia and Belarus to the competition in a neutral status, provided that they were not seen actively supporting the war in Ukraine.

In addition, the president of the organization,

Thomas Bach

, said that he wants athletes from Russia and Belarus to be able to take part in the Games in Paris in 2024.

Also, the International Olympic Committee reported on letters from two representatives of the UN Human Rights Committee, who previously expressed concern that Russians and Belarusians could not be allowed to compete because of their nationality.

According to the IOC, admission to the tournaments under the condition of a neutral flag does not contradict the Olympic Charter.

Earlier, the President of Ukraine,

Volodymyr Zelensky

, invited the head of the IOC to visit Bakhmut, so that he would make sure that "any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood."

The IOC's initiative was also criticized by the adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine

Mykhailo Padalyak

.

"The IOC offers the world the promotion of violence, mass murder, and destruction.

And that is why he insists that Russian athletes should participate in competitions as unconditional "ambassadors of death," Padalyak wrote on Twitter.

Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, head of the National Olympic Committee

Vadim Gutzeit

said that if Russian and Belarusian athletes are admitted to the Olympics, Ukrainian athletes may boycott them.