Ukraine demands the removal of Russia and Belarus from the Olympic Games - Shmigal

The Prime Minister stressed that during a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia killed 340 athletes and coaches. Ukraine expects that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will not allow athletes from Belarus and Russia to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris. This was reported by Prime Minister of Ukraine Denis Shmigal. "Sports and military aggression are incompatible. The states that have tarnished the blood of Ukrainians cannot participate in the Olympic Games," he said.

According to Shmigal, during a full -scale war, Russia killed 340 Ukrainian athletes and coaches, destroyed or damaged 343 sports facilities, and also attacks peaceful cities and villages daily with rockets and drones. "Ukraine is decisive. A powerful international coalition for honest sports, which includes 35 countries. We are ready to boycott Olympic Games in Paris if the Russian Federation and Belarus are allowed to participate in competitions," the Prime Minister added.

He reported that Ukraine expects that the IOC would make the right decision and decisively remove the aggressor from the Olympiad. It should be reminded that on January 31 it was reported that the first country of Europe refused to speak with the Russians and Belarusians at the 2024 Olympic Games. Latvia is going to contact international sports federations to achieve the removal of athletes from Russia and Belarus from participation in the Olympic Games.