Paris Olympics 2024: After The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to return to international playing arena as neutral players, WTA world no.1 Iga Swiatek labeled IOC’s stance as “confusing” considering that Ukraine is still under attack. The IOC had previously sanctioned Russia and Belarus after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. IOC has now decided athletes across all sports to have a chance to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Follow Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
Russia says it is prosecuting a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Russian and Belarusian tennis players have been competing on the tours and at the other Grand Slams as neutrals since March last year.
Swiatek on Support for Ukraine Last year at French Open
Iga Swiatek, who has been wearing the Ukraine flag on her hat since the invasion:
“I want to, at the end, say something to Ukraine. To stay strong, because the world is still here.”
Philippe Chatrier stands to applaud. pic.twitter.com/uHxpNCHxzs
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) June 4, 2022
Swiatek on IOC Decision for Paris Olympics 2024
“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 in tennis,” 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.”
Poland’s Swiatek, who wears a Ukrainian flag on her cap during matches, has previously said tennis missed an opportunity to send a strong message to Moscow by failing to impose a blanket ban on players from Russia and its ally Belarus.
“I just hope no matter what the decisions is going to be, the sport will be able to kind of put people together and not separate them,” Swiatek added.
“But there are tensions, so it may be tricky and hard to do, but you know me as just one athlete, I don’t have full influence on what’s going on, so we kind of have to just compete (at) our best no matter what the circumstances are.”
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