"MKOl defends re-establishment of Russian Olympic Committee after EU threats – Reuters block members reportedly called on Brussels to halt backing sports organizations in connection with re-acceptance of Russian and Belarusian athletes"

The global Olympic Committee (ICC) defended its decision to temporarily reinstate the membership of the Russian Olympic Committee (RKO), after respective EU countries threatened to put force on Brussels to halt financing sports organisations allowing again to compete athletes from Russia and Belarus," said the Agency Reuters.

Last week, the ICC lifted the suspension imposed on RKO, which had been in force since 2023. It was introduced after the committee incorporated into its structures sports organisations from 4 erstwhile regions of Ukraine, which voted in favour of joining Russia.

According to Reuters, 9 EU associate States have sent a letter to European athletics Commissioner Glenn Micallef, calling on the Union to halt financing the IKOl, the planet Aquatics (the planet Swimming Federation), the global Federation of Swordfishers and another sports organisations that have again allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete. The signatures of the letter are:

Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden.

The Ombudsman defended this decision, explaining to Reuters that the suspension was lifted after RKO removed regional sports organisations from its structures from its structures ‘territories under the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine’ and confirmed that he would no longer be active there.

"MKOl must be in complex realities and face the consequences of the current geopolitical situation" said the spokesman.

The Committee besides stressed that it would not organise its own competitions in Russia or invitation Russian government representatives, adding that any decisions concerning the Russian flag, anthem and another national symbols will be taken during the future Olympic Games ‘in due timeIt’s okay. ”

It is noted that the competitions outside the Olympic Games are held by the applicable global federations.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus were excluded from most global professions after the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, although since then any federations have relaxed these restrictions.

Moscow has repeatedly accused Western states of politicising athletics and exerting force on global federations to exclude Russian athletes, claiming that players should be assessed solely on the basis of sporting achievements.

The decision of the MKOl to suspend RKO in 2023 was described by the Russian authorities as politically motivated and contrary to Olympic rules.

Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharova welcomed the decision taken last week, commenting:

"Good sense has prevailed!".

Translated by Google Translator

source:https://www.rt.com/news/643151-ioc-russia-reinstatement-eu/