ウクライナ、ロシア参加ならパリ五輪ボイコットも　ＩＯＣ方針に反発

【パリＡＦＰ＝時事】ウクライナのワジム・フトツァイト青年スポーツ相は２６日、ロシアとベラルーシの選手が２０２４年パリ五輪への出場を認められた場合、ウクライナは大会のボイコットも辞さないと警告した。（写真は、北京冬季五輪の開会式で入場行進するロシア五輪委員会〈ＲＯＣ〉の選手）
　ロシアがウクライナ侵攻を開始した昨年２月以降、ロシアと同盟国ベラルーシは大半の五輪競技から除外されているが、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）は２５日、両国選手のパリ五輪参加を認める「道筋」を検討していることを明らかにした。
　これを受けて、フトツァイト氏はフェイスブックを更新し、「許容できない」動きだと反発。「自分たちの立場は変わらない。ウクライナで戦争が続いている限り、ロシアとベラルーシの選手は国際大会に出場するべきではない」とし、「われわれの声が届かなければ、五輪をボイコットして参加を拒否する可能性を排除しない」と投稿した。
　英国やデンマークもＩＯＣの方針を強く非難している一方で、パリのアンヌ・イダルゴ市長は中立の立場であることを条件に、ロシア選手のパリ五輪出場を支持する姿勢を示した。大会組織委員会は、現時点ではコメントを出していない。
　また、アジア・オリンピック評議会（ＯＣＡ）は２６日、今年の第１９回アジア競技大会でロシアとベラルーシの選手に出場機会を与えることを提案した。両国の選手はアジアの大会で五輪の出場資格を満たし、パリ大会に参加できる可能性があるため、ＯＣＡの申し出は大きな動きといえる。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/01/27-15:56）

Ukraine's sports minister warned on Thursday his country could boycott the 2024 Paris Olympics if Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to take part.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Wednesday it was seeking a pathway for Russians to take part in the Games despite the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine's sports minister Vadym Goutzeit said such a move was unacceptable.
Our position remains unchanged -- as long as the war continues in Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be in international competitions, Goutzeit wrote on Facebook.
If we are not heard, I do not exclude the possibility that we will boycott and refuse to participate in the Olympics.
Russia and its ally Belarus have been sidelined from most Olympic sports since Russian forces invaded Ukraine last February.
Ignoring calls from Ukraine to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from next year's summer Olympics, the IOC said Wednesday that a way to allow competitors from those countries to take part as neutrals should be further explored.
The IOC said no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport.
Following that announcement, the Olympic Council of Asia on Thursday offered athletes from both countries the chance to compete in this year's Asian Games.
That is a significant move because they could gain qualifying marks in competition in Asia to allow them to compete in Paris.
- 'Not reality of war' -
The IOC's stance was strongly criticised by Britain and Denmark on Thursday.
Britain, which has supplied military and humanitarian support to Ukraine since the invasion began, said the IOC's move was a world away from the reality of war.
Britain's Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan said: We condemn any action that allows President Putin to legitimise his illegal war in Ukraine.
This position from the IOC is a world away from the reality of war being felt by the Ukrainian people -- and IOC president (Thomas) Bach's own words less than a year ago where he strongly condemned Russia for breaking the Olympic Truce and urged it to 'give peace a chance', she added.
The head of Denmark's National Olympic Committee said his country was also strongly opposed to Russia returning to the Olympic fold.
The Russian aggression in UKR is escalating, Hans Natorp tweeted. Under these circumstances, it will be unacceptable to open up for RUS and Belarusian international sports participation.
We stand firmly in our position. Now is not the right time to consider their return.
The mayor of Paris said however she was in favour of Russian athletes competing at the 2024 Games, providing they did so as neutrals.
I think that it's a sporting moment and we shouldn't deprive athletes of the competition, Anne Hidalgo told France 2 television on Thursday.
But I think and what I'm arguing for, as is a large part of the sporting world, is that there isn't a delegation under the Russian banner.
She suggested they compete under a neutral banner.
Paris organisers have no say on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes.
The IOC said on Wednesday that the international federation for each Olympic sport was the sole authority for its international competitions.