Lithuanian Minister of Education, Science and Sports Jurgita Šiugždinienė noted on February 10, 2023, that a summit of 35 countries was held in Great Britain, organized over the issue of Russia’s possible participation in the 2024 Olympics. As a result, 35 countries, including the US, Germany and Australia, agreed to demand the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the 2024 Olympics.
Source: The Minister of Education, Science and Sports of Lithuania Jurgita Šiugždinienė
“We invite you not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in any international competitions, including the Olympic Games, while the war in Ukraine continues. Our position as sports politicians must be strong and united, we cannot allow it to be used. Pressure on Russia and Belarus is very important. Lithuania will support and join all initiatives and efforts to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from returning to international competitions, if these coincide with our clear and firm position,” informed the Minister of Education, Science and Sports of Lithuania.
It is noted that among those who supported these demands are the USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and Japan, as well as the Baltic and Scandinavian countries.
At the end of January, the IOC announced its intention to return athletes from Russia and Belarus to performances at international competitions under a neutral flag. In return, the Ukrainian President believes that Russia’s war cannot be covered by any neutrality or a white flag. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, only few Russian and Belarusian athletes condemn the war, but most of them are connected to military structures.
See also: Russia has already killed 184 Ukrainian athletes since the beginning of war
