Lithuania among 34 countries urging Russia, Belarus athlete ban from Olympics

Sport ministers and highest officials in charge of sport affairs from 34 countries have addressed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) asking to reconsider its decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as neutral athletes, the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport announces.

“We have strong concerns on how feasible it is for Russian and Belarusian Olympic athletes to compete as ‘neutrals’... when they are directly funded and supported by their states,” the ministers said in a joint statement, noting the concern about “strong links and affiliations between Russian athletes and the Russian military”.