Chinese Olympic Committee backs IOC, OCA initiatives on Russian, Belarusian athletes

BEIJING: After the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced to explore a pathway to bring individual athletes from Russia and Belarus back to international competitions, the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) said it will support the initiatives and decisions of IOC and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

A COC spokesperson told Xinhua news agency that the statement issued by the IOC Executive Board on Wednesday is the result of communication and consultation between the IOC and all stakeholders of the Olympic Movement.

At the 11th Olympic Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland last December, leaders of stakeholder groups of the Olympic Movement had in-depth discussions on this issue and agreed that the mission of the Olympic Movement is to unify the world through peaceful competition and that all athletes should be protected. COC President Gao Zhidan also attended the meeting, reports the agency.

"The OCA offered to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its authority, while respecting the sanctions in place," the OCA acting president Raja Randhir Singh was quoted as saying, which was widely supported by participants.

The IOC recently once again held consultation calls with all IOC members, International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and athlete representatives in this regard, during which the position of IOC was widely backed. IANS

Also Read: IOA Forms Seven-Membered Team To Initiate Probe Against Sexual Harassment Claims

Also Watch: