Madrid, March 4. The executive of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has come out “unanimously” in favor of the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes “in all international competitions”.
According to a press release from this continental body, its president, the former Algerian basketball player Mustafa Berraf, clarified after an executive meeting in Nouakchott that “ANOCA aligns itself with the position of the International Olympic Committee and its president, Thomas Bach. “
“This will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in complete neutrality and without any sign of identity,” the note adds.
The IOC has not expressly indicated that athletes from the invading country of Ukraine and its main ally, currently cut off from competition, will participate in the Paris Games, but it has been in favor of exploring ways to try to involve them. .as neutral athletes, without representing their country.
“ANOCA reaffirms its position that politics cannot pressure sport and strip it of its core values, which are rooted in peace, unity and solidarity (…). Under no circumstances, players should not pay the athletes the full price of any conflict, whatever it is and wherever it is”, indicates the communiqué of the African committees, which call for the war in Ukraine “to end and that the world find peace, tranquility and serenity.” EPE
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