34 nations: No clarity on neutrality, no Olympics for Russia

Tell all 34 nations not to bother turning up if they are so upset about having to compete fairly.

Sport not politics!

I say if you hold the passport of cheating show them the door to the land of no competition and they can tell their story walking.

Thomas Bach said ... that sports has to respect the human rights of all athletes.

Maybe. But the human rights of those dying under Putin's aggression seem far more worthy of respect. Putin has to learn that he has made his country a pariah, except among his misguided fanboys.

“History will show who is doing more for peace. The ones who try to keep lines open, to communicate, or the ones who want to isolate or divide,” Bach said.

As if Bach cares about peace or anything else other than a pile of money.

Tell all 34 nations not to bother turning up if they are so upset about having to compete fairly.

Hilarious. You really think the Paris Olympics will go ahead without FRANCE who are one of these signatories?

There is simply no way Russia and Belarus can compete - nor should they be allowed. Their supporters need to accept this and move on. Paris '24 will be better for it.

Let us not forget that before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they were caught red handed in a systematic, state-sponsored program to cheat in the Olympics.

Starts with getting rid of that scoundrel Bach .!.

Was it not true that wars were stop during the Olympics games in ancient Greece?

Was it not true that wars were stop during the Olympics games in ancient Greece?

Yes! Excellent point! The practice was called the Olympic Truce.

Simple fix: They can compete, but they have to compete under the rainbow pride flag, and the men's team has to wear daisy dukes for every event. Putin will be thrilled!

Let us not forget that before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they were caught red handed in a systematic, state-sponsored program to cheat in the Olympics

For which they were punished with a ban from all international competion for 2 years. That ban has now expired. You can't squeeze juice out of the same orange twice.

United Nations Human Rights experts say the athletes should be allowed to compete.

The UN has also overwhelmingly condemned the illegal invasion of Ukraine by fascist Russia.

So, you are cherry picking UN statements to suit you.

and why voice of just 34 nations "must" prevail?

because of USA and west want do so ?

Because the US, Japan, UK, Australia, NZ, South Korea, Spain, Germany, Canada, Greece, Netherlands, Italy and of course the host - France - carry the most weight. They usually fill out most of the Olympic top 10.

If youd like to have a Goodwill Games in Moscow instead, with the likes of Chad, Venezuela, North Korea, Belarus and fascist Russian and co - enjoy!

If Russian hadn't alienated the entire planet, they'd probably have some support to let them into the Olympics.

As it stands, seems to be a lot of crickets.

Glad to see Mr Bach, a very kind and honest man thinking of human rights and caring about the rights of all. Discrimination against anyone due to their nationality or colour is wicked. Pleased to see the UN agreeing with Mr Bach and not being drawn into this discrimination and hatred towards innocent young athletes.

Putin and Lukashenko are dictators. They head pariah states that have no regard for human life or the rule of international law. I think bans until they are out of power are called for.

Russia or its "representatives" should not be competing for the number of times they were caught using banned substances in a government sponsored doping program!

Or

Because Russia has chosen to attack a sovereign nation because Putin's near death experience with cancer sparked a midlife-crises/bucket list to ensure his legacy in Russia history!

It seems most people agree nations who attack other nations should not compete in the Olympics.

So why Russia only?

Russia should be banned permanently, for doping and for the war in Ukraine.

Russia or its "representatives" should not be competing for the number of times they were caught using banned substances in a government sponsored doping program!

Or

Because Russia has chosen to attack a sovereign nation because Putin's near death experience with cancer sparked a midlife-crises/bucket list to ensure his legacy in Russia history!

The problem with your first point is that the issue has been litigated and the punishment served. Unless you have fresh evidence of a new state sponsored doping program, CAS is not going to allow the IOC to arbitrarily punish Russia again for the same wrongdoing years later.

The problem with your second point is that other nations are also invading and occupying sovereign nations in blatant violation of international law. Should the US be banned from Paris 2024 for their invasion and occupation of eastern Syria?

There is no chance the Paris Olympics is going to feature fascist Russia or Belarus - as individual nations in any case - unless they withdraw in full from independent Ukraine. The host nation has already stated that they are not welcome. The sooner you and all those on the Russian side accept this and move on, the better it will be for you.

Heck - its not as if you'd enjoy seeing nations like Japan, the US, France and the UK beating Russia anyway! The Olympics is not for everyone, let it go.

You're clearly running away from his argument

There is no argument. Fascist Russia is NOT going to be allowed by the civilized world - including by the host - to compete in France. Just as the South Africans were not allowed to under apartheid, among other examples.

As I mentioned earlier, the Olympics is not for everyone. You should get behind the concept of a Russian-led Goodwill Games where despot states can compete. More your scene.

No argument that's a good one

No argument that's a good one

Argue until you are blue in the face, bashing Japan (as usual), the US, France et al all the way

Your side is not going to be there.

The problem with your second point is that other nations are also invading and occupying sovereign nations in blatant violation of international law. Should the US be banned from Paris 2024 for their invasion and occupation of eastern Syria?

The trouble with that statement is it is not factual. The US has not invaded and occupied Syria. Turkey has and Israel continues to attack Syria, so perhaps they should be banned from the Olympics until that changes. The US may have some handful of observers/trainers in place with local Kurdish forces at their request, but it in no way qualifies as an invasion or occupation.

Zelenskyy said Russia athletes had no place at the Paris Games as long as the country's invasion of Ukraine continues.

Well, then the Russian athletes just have to tell Putin to end the invasion.

The ancient Greek tradition of the ekecheiria, or "Olympic Truce", was born in the eighth century B.C., serving as a hallowed principle of the Olympic Games.

If we abandon the Olympic Truce, why not just abandon the Olympic Games altogether? And look who's speaking, Germany, who held the Berlin Olympics in the middle of the holocaust!

As long as money and politics are involved, somehow, the Russians will be back. For example, The Russian Olympic Committee was used instead of The Russian Federation or Russia. My guess, "The Unified Team" or something similar to that will be used to disguise the two countries.

As memory serves me right, I think the Olympics took place in Sarajevo, (then Yogoslavia) before their war.

As memory serves me right, I think the Olympics took place in Sarajevo, (then Yogoslavia) before their war.

That's right. 1984 Winter Olympics were held in Sarajevo.

@Peter14

The US may have some handful of observers/trainers in place with local Kurdish forces at their request, but it in no way qualifies as an invasion or occupation.

Whatever you choose to call it, it's a clear violation of sovereignty and international law to unilaterally place any forces in another country against that country's will, no matter how large or small. The Kurds are not the internationally recognised government in Syria and have no authority to invite US troops. Even the CATO institute refers to this as an illegal occupation.

There is simply no way the IOC can ban Russia/Belarus, and only Russia/Belarus, without engaging in double-standards.

"End America’s Illegal Occupation of Syria Now"

https://www.cato.org/commentary/end-americas-illegal-occupation-syria-now

@M3M3M3

it's a clear violation of sovereignty and international law to unilaterally place any forces in another country against that country's will, no matter how large or small.

No doubt it is against the wishes of the Syrian regime, but anyone calling observers and trainers an invasion or occupiers is making a ludicrous statement.

@Peter14

No doubt it is against the wishes of the Syrian regime,

And thus a violation of Syria's sovereignty, international law, and the UN Charter. The same fundamental wrongdoing Russia is accused of perpetrating in Ukraine.

The IOC cannot adopt some subjective standard which says 'small' illegal interventions are acceptable but 'big' ones are not.

but anyone calling observers and trainers an invasion or occupiers is making a ludicrous statement.

This is a story from 4 days ago. It seems like they're doing a bit more than just training and observing.

"Four US troops were wounded in a helicopter raid in Syria that killed a senior ISIS leader on Thursday night, according to the US military."

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/17/politics/us-troops-wounded-syria-isis/index.html

what injustice is there for forbidding a war-mongering war-crime-committing nation from competing?

Only that of Bach's bank account I suppose

Not a single independent state has spoken against Russia taking part. Only NATO states and other US vassals.

Not a single independent state has spoken against Russia taking part.

Not a single independent state has spoken in support of Russia

M3M3M3Today

@Peter14

No doubt it is against the wishes of the Syrian regime,

And thus a violation of Syria's sovereignty, international law, and the UN Charter. The same fundamental wrongdoing Russia is accused of perpetrating in Ukraine.

No, not even close. Russia has committed repeated grievous war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine, destroyed cities, stolen thousands of children, attempted to annex Ukraine territory and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands in Ukraine. Nothing like the US fighting ISIS and leaving observers and trainers behind in Kurd enclaves at their request.

That in your mind these wildly different situations are the same, says much about your perspectives and your grasp on reality. They are nothing alike.

PT,the US do have bases in Syria,they just were involved in special operation,in which four US commandos were injured by the detonation of suicide vest last week Google US Special Forces Isis

M,the U has establish bases in Syria

@Peter14

No, not even close. Russia has committed repeated grievous war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine, destroyed cities, stolen thousands of children,...

If you think the use of military force to violate another country's sovereignty and territorial integrity is not sufficient justification for an Olympic ban, what other objective standard would you propose to the IOC?

Would there be some minimum number of civilian casualties, kidnapped children and destroyed cities before a ban is implemented? How many accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity must there be, and how credible? What if a country is invaded without any civilian casualties and no allegations of war crimes?

It seems to me that you're twisting yourself into a pretzel trying to condemn your enemies while exonerating your allies.

That in your mind these wildly different situations are the same, says much about your perspectives and your grasp on reality. They are nothing alike.

You misunderstand me if you think I'm saying that all armed conflicts are equally brutal. The point is that the IOC has neither the resources or expertise to gather evidence and evaluate conflicting claims of civilian casualties or any of the other issues you raise.

The most basic, obvious, objective, and uncontroversial standard is to decide whether there has been an illegal use of force as defined by international law and the UN Charter. A panel of lawyers could provide the IOC with an opinion in 15 minutes.

If the purpose of an Olympic ban is to dissuade nations from engaging in illegal armed conflict, the ban should be easy to trigger. Reserving the ban for only the most egregious cases is a weak deterrent.