The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated on Friday that Moscow's attempt to compare the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee with the situation of Israeli athletes following the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas is "inappropriate."
A spokesperson for the IOC said, "The Russian situation is unique and cannot be compared to any other war or conflict in the world because the actions taken by the IOC and the recommendations made are a result of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine during the holding of the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing."
These remarks by the IOC came in response to a question regarding Israeli athletes participating in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris next year, and the potential for athletes from other countries to refuse to compete against them due to the ongoing conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Thursday that the IOC is biased towards Western political decisions, following the IOC's assertion that it would quickly address any discrimination against athletes in the Olympics, as they are not responsible for their governments' decisions. Lavrov described the IOC's statement as "shameful," claiming it demonstrates their political bias.
The IOC did not impose a suspension on the Russian Olympic Committee until last month due to its recognition of regional organizations from four territories annexed by Moscow from Ukraine. A decision has yet to be made regarding allowing Russian athletes to participate in the Paris Olympics as neutrals without a flag or national anthem, but the IOC has repeatedly stated that it will not penalize athletes for the decisions of their governments.
