🚨 Progress is being made!
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced the ban of several Russian and Belarusian wrestlers from the Paris 2024 Olympics. This decision is a significant step in the fight to exclude Russian athletes from the Games due to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
We welcome this measure that prevents Vladimir Putin’s supporters from participating in the Olympics.
Banned Wrestlers and the Reasons:
❌ Abdulrashid Sadulaev: Participated in a pro-war propaganda event organized by Vladimir Putin and appeared with a Russian soldier.
❌ Artur Naifonov: Visited the illegally occupied Crimea and received a medal from South Ossetia, a Georgian territory occupied by Russia.
❌ Zaurbek Sidakov: A member of the Russian military, he took part in several pro-war propaganda events displaying symbols supporting the invasion of Ukraine.
❌ Zavur Uguev: Involved in the same pro-war propaganda events as Sidakov.
❌ Khanum Velieva: A member of the Russian military.
❌ Nadezhda Sokolova: Expressed support for the invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin on social media.
❌ Iryna Kurachkina (Belarusian): Appeared with the son of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, sanctioned for his support of the war.
❌ Vanessa Kaladzinskaya (Belarusian): Participated in a pro-war propaganda event organized by Alexander Lukashenko (the son of the Belarusian dictator).
Despite these exclusions, the IOC has also invited several other Russian and Belarusian athletes who supported Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, including Ivan Litvinovich, Alina Kasabieva, Natalia Malysheva, Alan Ostaev, and Arslan Bagaev. This decision, announced on June 15, remains concerning.
We firmly believe that all Russian and Belarusian athletes who support the war should be banned from the Paris 2024 Olympics. The integrity of the Olympic Games depends on our ability to reject the participation of those who support the atrocities committed by their governments.
As long as Russian bombs continue to fall on Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes have no place at the Paris Olympics. We will not allow Russia to turn #Paris2024 into “blood games.” The Olympic values of peace, friendship, and respect must be upheld.
#BloodGames2024
