• COC criticized for its support of allowing Russia and Belarus.
• 40 retired Olympians from nation have written an open letter.
• Condemning its support of the IOC’s decision.

A call for the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to change its mind and stop supporting Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the 2024 Olympic Games has been made by more than 40 retired Olympians from the nation.

Because “No athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport.” the IOC Executive Board cleared the door for Russian and Belarusian competitors to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in January.

The COC has made it clear that it agrees with the IOC’s decision to permit Russian and Belarussian athletes to participate in the Paris Summer Olympics as “neutrals.”

Many athletes have written an open letter to the COC criticising its alleged support of allowing Russian and Belarusian competitors to compete in the Paris Games.

“We condemn recent public statements issued by the COC supporting the ‘exploration of a pathway’ for Russians and Belarusians to compete as ‘neutrals’ in the 2024 Paris Olympics,” the Canadians wrote in a statement released Wednesday.

“Opening the door to neutral Russian and Belarusian participation… sends a message that the COC is no longer concerned with Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine.

“No pathway should be considered for Russian or Belarusian athletes to compete in the Olympic Games until Russia fully withdraws from Ukraine.”

“Refusing their participation in international sport is not simply a matter of denying athletes a choice to compete because of their passport, it is a rejection of an unlawful and inhumane war and a recognition of the role international sports plays in geopolitics,” they wrote in a letter.

“As powerful and influential as the IOC is, the Canadian Olympic Committee remains an independent entity with a moral obligation to respect basic human rights.” Statement from 42 Canadian Olympians @TeamCanada @iocmedia @Olympics @Paralympics 4/4 pic.twitter.com/WDVMgf6MfR

— Global Athlete (@GlobalAthleteHQ) March 9, 2023

A group of 35 nations, including Canada, issued a statement last month stating that they “do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition” in the absence of clarification on a working neutrality model.

The COC responded to the letter by stating that it still holds the same position that athletes from both nations should be prohibited while allowing for a “workable neutrality approach.”

“We value the opinions and concerns raised by the athletes in today’s letter and offered to speak with several of the signatories numerous times over the past month to discuss their views and clarify our position, including at a special meeting of the COC Board of Directors convened for that purpose,” the committee said.

“Our position, consistent over the past year, is that we support the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from the international sport while the invasion is ongoing. This is aligned with the recent statement, signed by Canada and more than 30 other Nations, that call for the continuation of the ban in the absence of clarity and concrete details on a workable neutrality model,” it added.

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