“We can’t discriminate towards athletes simply due to their passport”

BARCELONA, July 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The president of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, identified that in precept no determination can be made on the invitation to Russia and Belarus to the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games this summer time, though he made it clear that the athletes from these nations that qualify will be capable of compete underneath the impartial flag with the purpose of “unifying sport for peace”.

“We do all the pieces we are able to to not discriminate towards athletes and to construct bridges and never create extra partitions. Our mission is to deliver all athletes collectively in a peaceable competitors with out punishing athletes for the selections and actions of the governments of their nations. We can’t discriminate towards anybody simply due to their passport,” Bach mentioned at a spherical desk with worldwide media wherein Europa Press was current.

In it, which lasted nearly an hour, he assured that the IOC is “decided” to do all the pieces it could actually to meet its mission of peace. “Our mission is to unite athletes from around the globe in peaceable competitors, and these steps are underway. Now we have put ahead some suggestions which are being utilized in different worldwide competitions,” he mentioned.

In the mean time, the IOC is not going to ship an official invitation to the Olympic committees of Russia and Belarus as a result of invasion of Ukraine. However he doesn’t rule out doing so if the UN provides the go-ahead. What is evident is that the Russian and Belarusian athletes who qualify for the Olympic occasion and compete underneath a impartial flag can be welcome in Paris.

“These (Russian and Belarusian) athletes make it clear that they wish to compete towards the very best athletes on this planet, however on the similar time we sanction those that are answerable for breaching the Olympic truce, that are the states of Russia and Belarus, with out with the ability to host championships. or have nationwide identification,” he defined.

Bach contributed that the deadline to determine the presence or absence of those two nations in Paris 2024 can be “earlier than the Video games”, however not this summer time even though the date set for mentioned invitation is July 26.

“I might not have extra particulars than that. It’s troublesome to say. I ask to your understanding as a result of we wish to do it with all diligence. And to do it with all diligence, it’s important to see what is going on within the {qualifications}. In the mean time, all the pieces is okay and the foundations They’re revered,” he mentioned, referring to the athletes from each nations who’re attempting to get their ticket to the Olympic occasion.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Video games would be the starting of a “new” Olympic period. “A brand new period begins within the metropolis of our founder, Pierre de Coubertin, within the metropolis of sunshine, Paris. So, already now, I can solely say welcome to Paris, and we look ahead to a superb Olympic Video games a yr from now” , he pointed.

The IOC chief identified that Paris 2024 would be the first Video games according to the reforms of the Olympic agenda. “They’ll function a framework that may assist form and construct future editions of the Olympic and Paralympic Video games. Paris will host the primary Olympic Video games with gender parity. The IOC has accommodated the identical variety of female and male athletes,” he famous.

“As well as, it is going to be a sustainable occasion, with 95 % of the venues already present or short-term. As well as, Paris 2024 plans to chop the carbon footprint, in comparison with London 2012 or Rio 2016, and can use 100% renewable vitality” he added.

They are going to be “city” Olympic and Paralympic Video games with the presence of the competitions “within the coronary heart of Paris”, such because the Eiffel Tower or the Place de la Concorde. “For the primary time in Olympic historical past, we are going to maintain the opening ceremony within the middle of town, with the Seine River offering the setting for a sensational welcome to the best athletes in historical past, with tons of of hundreds of individuals on the banks of the river. The athletes will really feel one thing very particular,” Bach acknowledged.

“They are going to be inclusive and open Video games. Guests can be spectators and members on the similar time. They’ll go based on youth, it is going to be the ‘break dance’ version and we are going to maintain browsing and skateboarding. All these are the the reason why Paris 2024 will illuminate a brand new period of Olympic and Paralympic Video games,” he concluded.