Wladimir Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion from Ukraine, posted a video on Monday arguing that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be barred from the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week laid out a plan to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who have not openly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine to compete as neutral athletes without a flag or anthem.
More:
- Klitschko spoke directly to IOC president Thomas Bach in his video, telling him that "the world is watching" and "history will judge you."
- Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited Bach to visit the embattled Ukrainian city of Bakhmut last week.
- The IOC condemned Klitschko's statements, saying that "they cannot serve as a basis for any constructive discussion."
- The IOC noted that U.N. rules ban discrimination against athletes based on their country of origin.
- The Russian national soccer team has been barred from international competitions by FIFA, but some Russian and Belarusian tennis players and cyclists have been allowed to compete as neutrals.
- Wladimir's older brother, Vitali Klitschko — who is also a former heavyweight boxer — currently serves as the mayor of Kyiv.
