The presidents of Russia and China, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, thanked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for "defending Olympic values" in a statement written on the sidelines of Xi's state visit to Moscow.
Christoph Becker
Sports editor.
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Both parties "oppose the politicization of sport and hope to use the unique role of physical culture and sport to promote solidarity and peace." The "relevant initiatives and decisions of the IOC and OCA" are "welcome" to Putin and Xi, according to the Tass news agency.
In response to the F.A.Z.'s question about a reaction to the decision of the Ukrainian Fencing Federation not to compete in competitions in which Russian and Belarusian athletes participate, the IOC referred to the "democratic decision" of the International Fencing Federation FIE.
This had allowed athletes from the two countries despite the continuation of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and its logistical support by Belarus. At the request of the FIE and other international sports federations, the circumstances surrounding the return of the Russian and Belarusian fencers are part of a "consultation process of the stakeholders of the Olympic movement" as part of the democratic decision-making process and will continue.
After its decision on Monday, the Ukrainian fencing federation told the F.A.Z. that the responsibility for the withdrawal of the Ukrainian fencers lies with the FIE and IOC President Thomas Bach.