Bach denies that COI is on the wrong side of history – Flash News

COURCHEVEL, France (AP) — International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Sunday insisted on respecting the human rights of athletes and denied that the organization is on the wrong side of history for helping Russian athletes and Belarusians to qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Bach and the IOC have faced a series of criticism from Ukraine and its allies, including comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, since he launched a pathway last month to allow some athletes Russians and Belarusians to return to international competition despite the war that started their countries.

Asked at the Alpine Skiing World Championships on Sunday whether the IOC might be on the wrong side of history, Bach dismissed the idea.

“No, history will tell who does the most for peace. Those who try to keep the lines open, communicate or those who seek to isolate and divide,” the IOC President said.

“We have demonstrated this very successfully in the past in the Olympic movement,” Bach said, pointing to North Korea and South Korea; Israel and Palestine; and Kosovo. “Our role is to bring people together.

Bach spoke to the international press ahead of the men’s downhill event, the main competition and which did not feature Russian and Belarusian athletes who have been sidelined since the war began in February last year. Ivan Kovbasnyuk is the only Ukrainian participant.

Kovbasnyuk earlier told The Associated Press that no Russian athlete should be allowed in Paris and joined calls from other Olympic medalists, including boxer Wladimir Klitschko, jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh and tennis player Elina. Svitolina.

“Russia is killing my people. It’s not a good situation for the Olympic Committee,” Kovbasnyuk said in Courchevel.

On Sunday, Bach spoke of his support for “every Ukrainian athlete. From a human point of view, we can understand their reaction, we share their suffering”.

The IOC cited the opinion of United Nations human rights experts that banning athletes from viewing their passports would be discriminatory.

Germany and Japan were not invited to the 1948 London Olympics after World War II aggression and South Africa was excluded between 1964 and 1988 due to racist apartheid laws .