Russians at the Olympics will not even be allowed to say where they are from: Bidnyi tells whether Ukraine can boycott the 2024 Olympics and what is being decided in Russia

Acting Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidnyi said that Ukraine is not considering a boycott of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, despite the International Olympic Committee's scandalous decision to allow "neutral" athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Summer Games. The official also noted that the Russian Federation does not currently have a consensus on participation in the French competition. However, if the aggressor's team decides to go to the Olympics, it will not look good there.

At the moment, our athletes have already won 57 licenses for the 2024 Olympics, and Ukraine is interested in having them compete in Paris and carry its message to the world.

"We are doing everything to ensure that our athletes can go to the Olympic Games and win. It is very important to show the position of Ukraine, to remind people of what is happening here. Because we understand the power of sport today. We understand that the most important goal now is to consolidate the international community around our struggle. And athletes are one of the most powerful ambassadors here," said Bidnyi.

"Thanks to the fact that today we are holding our ground, we are sending powerful messages to the international media and working on the diplomatic front, we are seeing results - some people are already offended by our statements, some even think that we are behaving very boldly," the acting minister added.

But at the same time, according to Mr. Bidnyi, we are receiving important signals. For example, Deutsche Welle interviews Olympic wrestling medalist Iryna Kolyadenko, who lived in the basement for two weeks at the beginning of the invasion, and it was not a question of training, but simply survival. Or when the French publication came to Koncha Zaspa and talked to judoka Anastasia Chyzhevska, whose home near Kyiv was destroyed by the occupiers, and who barely managed to escape but lost her father at the front.

"And when we see this interview lasting an hour and tears in the eyes of journalists, these are our most powerful signals, it helps the world finally remember what is happening in Ukraine. Every license is a feat today. And the Russians have a very big debate in society, they can't decide whether they should participate in the Olympics with such requirements or not," said Bidnyi.

The head of the ministry emphasizes that it is important to understand that there will be no Russian and Belarusian teams at the Olympic Games in Paris. Instead, there will be "people in white uniforms with a stamp, who are forbidden to even say, even in private conversations, where they came from," who are forbidden to use any state symbols or talk about their country.

"And moreover, it will not just be some Russian team under a white flag, it will be a team with representatives of other countries who, for one reason or another, cannot compete under their own flag. Therefore, I am convinced that if they are there, they will not look good," said Bidnyi.

"We will see what it will look like. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think we have already done a lot to ensure that our team can feel confident at the Olympic Games and deliver our state message," the head of the Ministry of Youth and Sports added.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA reported that the Olympic champion from Russia complained about the "absolutely lawless" conditions of Russia's admission to the Olympics.

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