The President of the United States Olympic Committee Susanne Lyons following the results of the summit of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne in the interview to The Wall Street Journal told about the changing view of the organization on participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in the coming Olympic Games.
— The USA are committed to searching for solution for athletes, who have been training their whole lives for it. They should have an opportunity to return to competition. But we strongly oppose their return under the flags of the countries, which governments remain under sanctions.
We discussed on Friday, whether the same need for protective measures still exists, as it was in February-March. We feel, the catalyst is still present (Russia’s military operation), but the issue of immediate safety of sportsmen is no longer so acute.
Some actions, taken by the governments of certain countries, pose a great risk to the Olympic movement. Some countries do not issue visas to athletes from certain states or they pressure their own sportsmen not to compete with the representatives of particular countries.
For the most part it is considered a violation of the Olympic Charter. We don’t wish certain countries to decide, based on political preferences, whom their athletes are allowed to compete with and whom — not, — said Lyons.
Photo: wsj.com
