The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has clarified that it has no intentions of imposing sanctions on Israel in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics due to its incursion in Gaza.
Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, the head of the IOC coordination committee for Paris 2024, highlighted the distinction between the conflicts in Gaza and Russia’s actions in Ukraine, for which Russia faced IOC sanctions.
Beckers-Vieujant emphasized the specificity of the reasons that led to the sanctions on Russia and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), stating that they had undermined essential parts of the Olympic charter. In contrast, he asserted that the situation with the Palestinian Olympic Committee and the Israeli Olympic Committee, coexisting peacefully, does not warrant similar measures.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the IOC urged international sports federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions and cancel events in Russia. Russia’s violation of the Olympic charter and the “Olympic truce” post-Beijing Winter Olympics led to the suspension of the ROC.
Despite the suspension, Russian and Belarusian athletes are permitted to compete as neutrals at the Paris Games, excluding team events, provided they do not actively support the war on Ukraine. The IOC estimates a limited number of qualified athletes from these countries as neutrals.
Amid calls from Palestinian activists and left-wing French MPs for IOC sanctions on Israel over the Gaza conflict, the IOC has maintained its stance against such measures.
IOC chief Thomas Bach assured special protection for Israeli athletes during the Paris Games, emphasizing the need for equal treatment and respect for all participants in the Olympic Village and beyond.
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