Retired Canadian Olympians call for Russia, Belarus to be banned from 2024 Paris Games – National | 24CA News

A gaggle of 42 retired Canadian Olympians urged the Canadian Olympic Committee to reject the concept of permitting Russians to take part in subsequent yr’s Paris Games except Russia withdraws from Ukraine.

“We condemn recent public statements issued by the COC supporting the `exploration of a pathway’ for Russians and Belarusians to compete as `neutrals’ in the 2024 Paris Olympics,” the Canadians wrote in an announcement launched Wednesday.

Opening that door, the athletes mentioned, “sends a message that the COC is no longer concerned with Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.”

Signing the assertion was a who’s-who of Canadian Olympic greats and gold medalists, together with Hayley Wickenheiser (hockey), Jenn Heil and Alex Bilodeau (freestyle snowboarding), Tessa Virtue (skating) and Beckie Scott (cross-country snowboarding).

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been largely excluded from worldwide competitors since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final February. The International Olympic Committee seeks a pathway again for these athletes to compete with out formally representing their international locations, citing human-rights specialists who argue the athletes shouldn’t be discriminated towards solely due to their passports.

“Refusing their participation in international sport is not simply a matter of denying athletes a choice to compete because of their passport, it is a rejection of an unlawful and inhumane war and a recognition of the role international sports plays in geopolitics,” the Canadians wrote.

The COC has walked a positive line in staking out a place. Last month, secretary normal David Shoemaker prompt athletes from the banned international locations needs to be made to publicly converse out towards the warfare to achieve the impartial standing they would wish to take part.

Canada’s was additionally amongst a gaggle of 35 governments that launched an announcement final month saying that, with out readability on a workable neutrality mannequin, “we do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition.”

Both the COC and the governments have stopped in need of stating that Russians shouldn’t be allowed.

In their assertion, the Canadian Olympians mentioned a requirement for Russians to declare opposition to the warfare is “unfounded and out of touch.”

“For example, it is illegal in Russia to publicly denounce military actions abroad, and virtually impossible for high-profile athletes to oppose the war,” the assertion mentioned.

It additionally used situations in 2018 and 2021 when Russians may compete not beneath their nation’s flag _ however as a substitute beneath the titles of “Olympic Athletes from Russia” and “Russian Olympic Committee” as a consequence of doping sanctions _ as examples of how “separation of athlete from state is an impossible task.”

The letter additionally factors out that the warfare started shortly after final yr’s Winter Games in Beijing, which was highlighted by a high-profile assembly between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping earlier than the opening ceremony.

“The Beijing 2022 Games helped set the stage for and dictated the timing of the initial invasion, sports facilities in Ukraine have been targeted by the Russian attacks, and Russian athletes have been elevated to high-ranking military positions and used in war propaganda,” the letter mentioned.

It concluded that “no pathway should be considered” for Russians or Belarusians to compete in Paris till Russia “fully withdraws from Ukraine.”

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