Ukraine must consider its interests in taking part in Paris 2024 says minister

10/12/2023 12:19

        Ukraine must consider whether taking part in next year's Paris Olympics is in the nation's interests but participation is impossible unless the IOC alters its "non-constructive position," Ukraine's sports minister said on Saturday.
        
        Matviy Bidnyi, Ukraine's minister of youth and sport, was speaking on national television a day after the International Olympic Committee said Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete in Paris as neutrals without flags, emblems or anthems.
        
        Bidnyi said, "The decision to participate should be made based on what it will bring to the country, what the reaction will be and how much it will bring us closer to victory," referring to Ukraine's 21-month-old war with Russia.
        
        "We should not make rash decisions. It will be a balanced decision and we have to communicate it to the public. We will weigh the pros and cons very carefully."
        
        Russians and Belarusians had initially been banned from competing internationally following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, for which Belarus has been used as a staging ground.