Judokas from Russia and Belarus will be able to participate in international tournaments
The International Judo Federation (IJF) will allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international tournaments as individual athletes in neutral status. All individuals entered into the competition will be screened for possible support for military propaganda, he said. organization on Saturday, April 29, on their website.
The IJF Executive Committee will contract with a reputable independent firm to review the biographical details of all athletes and companions, including the content of their social media accounts. Only athletes and support staff who pass these checks will be able to compete, the statement said. “This decision will provide an opportunity for fair participation and equal chances for all judokas who wish to fulfill their Olympic dream,” said the organization.
“Sport is the main bridge of dialogue and reconciliation”
The communiqué also states that “sport is the main bridge of dialogue and reconciliation”. “We are firmly opposed to all forms of aggression, discrimination, war and loss of life. We firmly believe that everyone has the right to practice sport, regardless of ethnicity, religion or gender”, underlined the federation.
A few weeks ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) resumed discussions on the possibility of returning athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions. He made recommendations that could allow anti-war Russians and Belarusians to participate in tournaments after a year of suspension. The IOC recommendations were widely criticized in several countries. In Kiev, they said that Ukrainian athletes would boycott competitions with the participation of Russian or Belarusian athletes. German athletes also objected to the admission of Russians and Belarusians, as both the athletes themselves and sports in these countries “became tools for Putin’s military propaganda”.
Source: DW
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