After several countries opposed the participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Russia wants to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Games along with China, India, Pakistan and other Central Asian republics.

Cooperation with the Organization of the Games in Russia

“We propose to study the candidacy of the Russian Federation as a possible country-organizer of the OCS Games”, – said the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matitin in the Telegram channel.

The minister made these statements in New Delhi during a meeting of sports ministers of the participating countries of the organization, led by Russia and China, also offering to adopt a joint statement against the politicization of sports and discrimination of athletes, it is reported. Agerpres.

“Our joint mission is to do everything possible so that athletes and major international competitions are not the object of political games. This is possible only under conditions of equality and mutual respect,” he said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in January set guidelines for the re-entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes into international competition after they were expelled following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, to compete without the anthem and flag in Olympic qualifying events.

Many countries have publicly challenged the IOC’s decision, and Ukraine has threatened to boycott the 2024 Games while Russian troops occupy its territory.