French President Emmanuel Macron has stated that the Russian flag should not be allowed to fly at the Paris Olympics next year. The participation of Russian athletes, however, is a decision for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to make. The threat of a boycott from Ukraine could be dropped if Russian and Belarusian athletes compete under a neutral flag instead of their national colors.
Macron said, “Of course, there can be no Russian flag during the Paris Games, I think there is a consensus on that matter. Because Russia, as a country, is not welcome at a time where it has committed war crimes and deported children.” He believes that the decision of what place can be given to Russian athletes should be determined by the Olympic organization, and that it should not be politicized.
Macron also emphasized the importance of involving Ukrainians in IOC meetings regarding this matter. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has resulted in numerous casualties, the destruction of cities, the displacement of millions of people, and severe economic damage. Belarus was used by Russian troops as a launching point for their failed attack on Kyiv at the beginning of the invasion.
Some Ukrainian athletes view their nation’s current ban on competing against Russians and Belarusians, regardless of the flag under which they compete, as a self-inflicted wound that harms the careers of sports stars.
Reporting by Julien Pretot and Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne
Credit: The Star : Sport Feed
