sports policy
World Swimming Federation supports IOC in Russia question
Russian swimmers can hope for a return to international competitions. photo
© Gian Mattia D’alberto/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa/Symbolbild
The world association is working on a re-admission of Russian and Belarusian swimmers. A task force begins its work.
The World Swimming Federation supports the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international competitions again under certain conditions as neutral athletes.
A task force is to investigate a possible way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to water sports events, World Aquatics said. The current exclusion remains in force for the time being. The world association pointed out that the task force needed time and should report at a meeting in July.
The IOC had linked its recommendation for re-admission to criteria intended to ensure the neutrality of athletes from the two countries. How these conditions are implemented and whether approval is granted or not is for the world federations to decide according to their rules. The requirements include, among other things, that the athletes do not actively support the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine and that they have no connections to the military or security agencies.
The vice president of the German Swimming Association recently spoke out against the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions. “The war continues. We therefore see no reason to deviate from our position of excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes,” said Wolfgang Rupieper of the German Press Agency before the announcement by “World Aquatics”.