The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, commented on the possible return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions, in particular, the intention to admit them to the

2024 Olympic Games in Paris

.

He stated that the IOC cannot be the arbiter of global political disputes, and the Olympic Games must stay away from politics, otherwise they allegedly lose their unifying power.

"The Olympic Games and their governing body, the International Olympic Committee, cannot be arbiters of global political disputes.

If politics decides who can compete, then sports and athletes become instruments of politics.

Then sport cannot convey its unifying power.

We must be politically neutral, but not apolitical.

We know very well that the world is ruled by politics.

We are well aware that our decisions have political consequences, and we must include this in our thinking.

But we must not make the mistake of making ourselves the arbiters of political disputes, because we will be crushed by this political power.

Ukraine wants, and this is a direct quote, "complete isolation of all Russians."

We are faced with a dilemma.

We sympathize, suffer and understand the Ukrainian people and athletes.

On the other hand, we as a global organization are responsible for human rights and the Olympic Charter.

They do not allow such total isolation of people with a certain passport," Reuters quoted Bach as saying.

It was reported earlier.

that 35 countries have agreed 

to demand

 from the IOC the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

In February 2023, the IOC announced that the final decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games has 

not yet been made

.

As a reminder, Ukraine 

may boycott the 2024 Olympics

if athletes from Russia and Belarus are admitted to the competition.

Read also:

The IOC proposes to encourage Russian athletes for their participation in the genocide - Podoliak

Great Britain called on the sponsors of the Olympics to prevent the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics

"Sanctions remain in force": the IOC made a statement on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation