After a virtual sports summit with government representatives from 35 nations, the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) reaffirmed its position on the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s handling of the “Russia question”. “From our point of view, there is no reason to invite Russian and Belarusian sport to return to the competitions,” said a spokesman.
“The Ukrainian athletes must continue to have the full solidarity and support of the international sports community.” The efforts of the IOC to resume the Russian and Belarusian athletes are the wrong way, “explained the Federal Ministry responsible for sport.
“Productive meeting” of politicians
Representatives from Europe, North America, East Asia and Oceania came together virtually on Friday. Germany was represented by Parliamentary State Secretary Mahmut Özdemir (SPD). A joint declaration is to be formulated and published in the coming days. However, according to statements by various participants, an overall negative attitude towards the IOC concept became clear. British Sports Minister Lucy Frazer wrote on Twitter that it was a very productive meeting of the 35 nations. “And I made Britain’s position very clear: as long as Putin continues his barbaric war, Russia and Belarus must not be represented at the Olympics. We will now issue a joint statement on this issue.”
The reaction from Russia followed on Saturday and was as clear as expected. “The attempt to dictate the conditions for athletes to participate in international competitions is absolutely unacceptable. We currently see an undisguised desire to destroy the unity of world sport,” Minister of Sport Oleg Matyzin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. On the other hand, the Polish Minister of Sport, Kamil Bortniczuk, spoke out in favor of a compromise by proposing that athletes from Russia and Belarus who were critical of the government should start on the Olympic refugee team.
On the fringes of the Biathlon World Championships in Oberhof, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier tried to calm the debate. “It’s not time for politics to step in,” he told ZDF: “This is a debate that has only just begun. Looking at past decisions, I’m quite confident that it will end become responsible decisions.”
At the end of January, the IOC brought up the possibility of paving the way for athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competitions, despite the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The IOC called, among other things, an individualization of the athletes as a prerequisite: A start is only possible without anthems, flags and national colors. Ukraine responded with a boycott threat, which IOC President Thomas Bach sharply condemned in a letter to the Ukrainian Olympic Committee.