IOC Urge Cancellation Of Sports Events In Russia & Belarus

The International Olympic Committee has called for all sports events in Russia and Belarus to be cancelled or moved.

Megasportsarena.com reports that the IOC have condemned the two nations for breaching the ‘Olympic Truce’, which only ends seven days after the Winter Paralympics close next month and is meant to promote peace.

And they have now called on all international sports federations – the governing bodies which oversee summer and winter Olympic sports – to scrap or relocate upcoming competitions, as well as banning Russian and Belarussian flags from being displayed and anthems from being played.

Russian athletes at the Beijing Games did not compete under their flag and their anthem was not played at any ceremonies, following sanctions imposed for the widespread doping across many sports exposed after the 2014 Sochi Games.

The invasion of Ukraine led to Russia losing the Champions League final, which will now be played in France, the Formula One Russian Grand Prix and skiing World Cup events among many others.

Russia is scheduled to host the short-course swimming World Championships in December, as well as the men’s volleyball World Championship in August and September.

The IOC sent out a strong statement on Friday: ‘The IOC today urges all international sports federations to relocate or cancel their sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.

‘They should take the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian and Belarussian governments into account and give the safety and security of the athletes absolute priority.

‘In addition, the IOC urges that no Russian or Belarussian national flag be displayed and no Russian or Belarussian anthem be played in international sports events which are not already part of the respective World Anti-Doping Agency sanctions for Russia.’

Despite the IOC’s intervention, the International Paralympic Committee will still allow Russian athletes to compete at the Games in Beijing, which start on March 4, meaning they could come up against competitors from Ukraine and Britain.