The Ukrainian sports minister, Vadym Guttsait, has warned that the country could boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics if athletes from Russia and Belarus are allowed to compete. The announcement comes on the heels of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Jan. 25, saying it was favoring “a pathway for athletes’ participation” that would enable Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as neutrals. “No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport,” the IOC said in its statement. On Jan. 26, Russia and Belarus were invited by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to compete in the Asian Games, a key Olympic qualifier in several sports that will be held in Hangzhou, China, in September and October.
It is not the first time that geopolitics have presented a challenge for the 2024 Paris Olympics, as previously reported.
