Canada expressed its disapproval on Thursday regarding the International Olympic Committee’s decision to relax the suspension on Russian athletes. The IOC’s announcement on Tuesday indicated that the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles could see the participation of Russian athletes, pending a later decision on whether they can compete under the Russian flag and anthem.
Adam van Koeverden, a former Olympian and current Secretary of Sport, criticized the IOC’s move, stating, “I am appalled by the IOC’s decision.” He emphasized that given Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both Russia and Belarus should not be allowed to compete in international sporting events.
Moreover, Canada declared that Russian athletes would not be permitted to participate in any domestic sports events funded by Ottawa. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand raised concerns that the IOC’s decision could normalize Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukraine.
The IOC had initially suspended Russia and Belarus following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Various international sports governing bodies, such as FIFA, followed suit, with some allowing Russian athletes to compete neutrally without the Russian flag.
Recently, the IOC began vetting Russian and Belarusian athletes for ties to military and security agencies. However, as of this week, these restrictions have been provisionally lifted by the IOC. IOC President Kirsty Coventry highlighted the importance of not punishing athletes for their governments’ actions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the IOC’s decision, seeing it as a step towards reinstating Russian athletes’ rights to compete internationally. Despite this, Russian government officials remain barred from Olympic events.
Canada’s objection to the IOC’s decision was echoed by Estonia, which called on the European Union to withdraw funding from the IOC over the Russia issue. Conversely, the Olympic Council of Asia supported the IOC’s decision, emphasizing that athletes should not be restricted from international competitions due to conflicts involving their countries.
FIFA is also considering its stance on the matter, with President Gianni Infantino indicating a review of the IOC decision before determining any actions related to Russia’s participation in future events.