The UK authorities has been accused of a U-turn after accepting Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete on the 2024 Olympics.
Final yr, Tradition Secretary Lucy Frazer stated athletes “funded by their states” or “who’re in receipt of funding or sponsorship immediately aligned to their states” can’t be thought of impartial within the context of the invasion of Ukraine.
Britain is a part of a coalition of like-minded nations which had known as for a ban on such athletes resulting from this funding.
However the authorities has now confirmed it agrees with the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) that Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete beneath a impartial banner on the upcoming Paris Video games.
Ms Frazer stated on Friday these athletes might be participating beneath the “strictest neutrality circumstances potential”.
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After the place was revealed by The Instances earlier this month, there have been accusations of a authorities U-turn on the difficulty.
Richard Caborn, who was sports activities minister between 2001 and 2007, stated: “This can be a humiliating U-turn by Frazer after her forceful speech one yr in the past to the Council of Europe setting out why Britain ought to assist the whole ban of Russian athletes taking part within the Paris Olympics.”
In her speech final yr, Ms Frazer stated the IOC’s suggestions did “not go far sufficient”, and {that a} group of greater than 30 nations had raised issues.
Tradition Secretary Lucy Frazer. Pic: PA
The federal government has rejected the suggestion that it modified course following an IOC risk to forestall the UK from internet hosting Olympic qualifying occasions.
Ms Frazer stated on Friday that she and sports activities minister Stuart Andrew are “personally dedicated to supporting Ukraine within the face of Putin’s unlawful invasion”.
They stated it was for every sporting physique, just like the IOC, to make their very own determinations.
Ms Frazer added: “However our place is evident. Putin’s regime doesn’t need to see its athletes line up on the beginning blocks of races or stand on podiums throughout medal ceremonies as representatives of their nations.
“This has by no means been about punishing particular person Russian or Belarusian athletes.
“What we stand towards is athletes competing representing the states of Russia and Belarus.
“We proceed to vigorously oppose Russian and Belarusian state participation. Our coverage has by no means been a whole and complete ban on impartial athletes from Russia and Belarus taking part in any respect.”
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Inside Paris 2024 preparations
The minister identified Russians and Belarusians have been in a position to compete as neutrals in UK tennis competitions.
She insisted the efforts of the federal government and coalition have been targeted on urging Olympic organisers to “change their method, apply the strictest neutrality circumstances potential and guarantee they’re applied rigorously”.
“After two years of concerted lobbying, they’ve achieved that. And the result’s that the variety of athletes from Russia and Belarus anticipated to take part within the Olympics is within the tens, not a whole bunch.
“Consequently, we’ve got written to the IOC and Worldwide Paralympic Committee noting that their remaining neutrality guidelines for Paris obtain the extensively accepted baseline of making certain that Russia and Belarus should not represented as states in worldwide sport.”
The IOC expects as many as 54 Russian athletes to compete in Paris.
They won’t be able to compete in group disciplines, can’t compete in Russian colors or beneath the Russian flag and medals won’t be included collectively in a desk.
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The IOC is leaving it as much as the person sports activities to make selections on whether or not to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the same time as neutrals – World Athletics, for example, has imposed an outright ban.
