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President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will 'tell the whole world that terror is somehow acceptable' if Russian and Belarusian athletes can compete at the Paris 2024.
The IOC confirmed last week that they intended to uphold the sanctions against Russian and Belarusian state and government officials ahead of next year's Olympics in the French capital, but added that they would explore opportunities for athletes from both nations to compete under a neutral flag.
Ukraine subsequently threatened to boycott the games, unless the IOC reversed its decision.
Having already confirmed his opposition to the IOC's plans, Zelensky went a step further in his nightly address to the Ukrainian people on Sunday.
"Attempts by the International Olympic Committee to bring Russian athletes back into the Olympic Games are attempts to tell the whole world that terror is somehow acceptable," president Zelensky said.
"As if you could shut your eyes to what Russia is doing in Kherson, Kharkiv, Bakhmut and Avdiivka. [Russia] cannot use the Olympics or any other sports event as propaganda for its aggression or its state chauvinism."
The IOC said that these athletes can compete as 'neutral athletes', also adding that 'no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport'.
Zelensky went as far as to compare the IOC's decision to the one made in the 1930s when Nazi Germany hosted the 1936 Olympics.
"There was a major Olympic mistake. The Olympic movement and terrorist states definitely should not cross paths," he said.
Zelensky also confirmed he has discussed the issue with French president Emmanuel Macron.
The president's issues were also echoed by the UK government which has condemned the plan to allow athletes to compete neutrally as a 'world away from the reality of war'.
