KYIV — On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote a letter to Emmanuel Macron the President of France, and urged him to ban Russian athletes from participating in the 2024 Olympic games, which will be taking place in Paris.
In the letter, Zelensky explained that the Russian and Belarusian athletes should be banned from the Games to show that “terror” is not acceptable, In his address, Zelenksy Stated that “Attempts by the International Olympic Committee to bring Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games are attempts to tell the whole world that terror is somehow acceptable.”
He later said, “Russia must not be allowed to use the Olympic Games or any other sports event as propaganda for its state chauvinism.” Zelensky explained that another “major Olympic mistake” must not be repeated, comparing Russia’s participation to the 1936 Olympic games that were held by the Nazis in Berlin. “The Olympic movement and terrorist states definitely should not cross paths.” he later said.
The (IOC) said that the Russian and Belarusian athletes could be able to play as “neutrals” in the Olympics, but Zelensky added that “there can be no neutrality in sport while his country’s athletes are dying on the battlefield.”
Zelensky announced that Ukraine will boycott the Olympic Games in 2024 if any of the Russian athletes will be allowed to compete.