‘Keep politics and sports apart’ is a notion heard across multiple sports platforms and a sentiment echoed by numerous sportspersons. But when it comes to something as Internationally huge as the Olympics, where the whole world is tuned in, the distance between the two gets lesser and lesser. However, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is determined to keep those two i.e. sports and politics apart and make the upcoming Olympics accessible to athletes from around the world, including Russia and Belarus.

A recent tweet captures the IOC president echoing his idea. An idea in which he doesn’t intend to put any bars on athletes from any place. Even if they are from Russia, which was involved in the recent war in Ukraine. Or if they are from the neighboring country Belarus, a part of the former Soviet Union. Bach wants unequivocal equality among all athletes at the Paris Olympics.

Thomas Bach keeps the door open for all athletes around the world

A Tweet by Malinda goes, “President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach said that he wants to see athletes from Russia and Belarus at the Olympics”. An emoji of an unhappy face with a white bandage wrapped around its head expresses the emotion behind this decision.

The tweet quotes Thomas Bach, “We are very closely cooperating and exchanging ideas with the international federations that are currently responsible for the competition. We very much hope that this mission can be carried out under the conditions that have been established for the athletes from these two countries to compete in a neutral status. Then we will really be able to unite the whole world at the 2024 Olympics in Paris”.

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IOC chief Bach expects Russian athletes to compete at Rio

The update comes after a bellowing noise around the world to ban Russian athletes from any sports events. This was fueled by Russia’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war.

How Thomas Bach’s decision may irk a lot of people?

Thomas Bach spoke about the same during his hours-long speech in Essen, Germany in 2022. There, he expressed his desire to not turn athletes into tools of politics. But for those who suffered in Ukraine during the much-drawn-out war, the wounds are still fresh, both literally and metaphorically. Therefore, a strong resentment in the general public still exists towards Russia.

Thomas Bach is all about giving the utmost importance to all athletes. He even once burst out in rage over the mistreatment of teenage athletes by the Russian team at the Beijing Winter Olympics. However, his decision to include all Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris Olympics may not be supported by all. But with a year to go, it is yet to be seen if Bach’s wish comes to fruition.

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