Paris Olympics: IOC stance on Russians, Belarusians 'confusing', says No. 1 ranked Iga Swiatek
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Paris Olympics: IOC stance on Russians, Belarusians 'confusing', says No. 1 ranked Poland star Iga Swiatek.
The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international competition as neutrals is "confusing" because Ukraine is still under attack,tennisworld number one Iga Swiatek said.
The IOC sanctioned Russia and Belarus after Moscow launched the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 but is now eager to see athletes come back across all sports and have a chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Russia says it is prosecuting a "special military operation" in Ukraine. Russian and Belarusiantennisplayers have been competing on the tours and at the other Grand Slams as neutrals since March last year.
"Right now the situation is pretty complicated because at the beginning of the war there weren't many decisions one way. At first they (Russian and Belarusian athletes) were kind of banned in other sports, not intennis," Swiatek told reporters on Thursday. "Then it changed a little bit and they are starting to be allowed, which is pretty confusing because I feel nothing changed in Ukraine and the cities are still under attack. "Many Ukrainian athletes are fighting in the war and losing their lives. It's heartbreaking."
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Friday, April 21, 2023 at 9:55 am