Husain Al-Musallam, the director general of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) stressed that the athletes should not be denied access to sport due to conflicts between governments.
Follow Us
The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Athletes’ Forum has made a decision regarding the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international competitions. 88 participants from 43 countries attended the forum who discussed the issue behind closed doors. The OCA has stated that athletes should not be punished for the actions of their governments and should be able to compete internationally without any form of discrimination. However, the OCA has also established clear conditions, such as no national flags or anthems, to ensure that athletes compete strictly as neutrals.
The decision comes amidst controversial discussions by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutrals. The proposal also includes a possible qualification pathway for the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, the IOC’s plans have sparked an angry reaction in Ukraine, with threats of a boycott for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Read more: Is Russia planning to launch a new multi-sport event?
At the OCA Athletes’ Forum, the director general Husain Al-Musallam emphasized the importance of allowing innocent athletes to participate in international competitions. He cited examples of the North and South Korean teams participating together in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and Kuwait’s decision to not bar Iraqi athletes from participating in international competitions, despite the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990.
Al-Musallam stressed that the athletes should not be denied access to sport due to conflicts between governments. He argued that allowing athletes to participate in international competitions would push governments for peace. However, he also mentioned that the OCA would not take an individual decision without proper consultation and agreement with all parties involved, including the IOC.
Read more: IOC urges UK to prioritize ‘Sports Autonomy’ in Russia dispute
Critics of the possible return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions have argued that neutrality is not possible due to the links between sport and the governments of both countries. Practical difficulties have also arisen, such as the cancellation of a Fencing World Cup due to visa issues for nationals of both countries entering Germany.
The OCA Athletes’ Forum declaration follows a similar stance taken by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa at an equivalent event in Algiers. The forums aim to promote non-discrimination in sports and allow athletes from all countries to participate without fear of punishment for the actions of their governments.
The decision made by the OCA Athletes’ Forum paves the way for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in international competitions as neutrals, without any form of discrimination. The decision comes with the clear conditions of no national flags or anthems, compliance with all anti-doping rules and regulations, and fairness for Asian athletes in any qualification pathway. It is still unclear whether this will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Asian Games, but the OCA statement references athletes accessing international competitions, including its flagship multi-sport event, without any form of discrimination.
Read more: “Unfortunately, the IOC is not an independent organization” – Russian Deputy PM Dmitry Chernyshenko
