The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled on Tuesday that Russian athletes will be allowed to compete in the Olympic Games and the qualifying competitions once more. Whether the athletes will be permitted to compete under the Russian flag at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles has yet to be decided. Commentators say the decision sends a disastrous signal nevertheless.
Only protest and boycott can help now
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Expressen is appalled (Sweden):
“It’s not hard to see which way the Olympic wind is blowing. And it stinks. The IOC is sending a clear and unambiguous signal that unprovoked wars of aggression are perfectly acceptable, provided they last long enough. ... After the Russian invasion, Fifa wanted Russia to still be allowed to participate in the World Cup, albeit with certain restrictions. But it was forced to abandon its plans after protests from several European countries, Sweden among them. So it’s high time for countries and sponsors alike to start thinking about boycotting the Olympics.”
Outcry comes too late
Delfi (Estonia) is also angry about the failure of Ukraine’s friends to take action:
“The decision has been made, and the Kremlin will be celebrating. It’s just astounding that there were no serious protests beforehand. Estonia in particular, and other friends of Ukraine could have taken the initiative. The fact that today, now that the battle is over, people in Estonia are shaking their fists and condemning the decision won’t change a thing. Where was this pressure when it would have still been possible to prevent this decision?”
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