Sports policy - Minister President Rhein criticizes IOC stance on Russia
Hesse's Minister President Boris Rhein has sharply criticized the International Olympic Committee for its stance on the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes. "I think a statement that anyone who does not welcome athletes from all countries, meaning the Russia of the war criminal Putin, cannot host the Games is absolutely wrong. With all due respect," said the CDU politician on Saturday in Frankfurt in his welcoming address to the General Assembly of the German Olympic Sports Confederation.
This would turn the Olympic idea on its head. "This is about attitude. This attitude must be shown right now. Peace and international understanding is the basis of Olympic peace," he emphasized. "It is completely unacceptable for Ukrainian athletes to face athletes who are attacking their country, their families and the whole of Europe and causing them great suffering. Putting athletes in neutral jerseys doesn't change that."
Rhein was referring to the IOC's negative reaction to Germany's ambitions to take over the 2026 Olympic bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions. The IOC is currently taking a critical view of this because Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) wants to refuse entry to athletes from Russia and Belarus due to the war in Ukraine. According to the IOC statement, this means "that countries where such restrictions exist cannot be considered". The IOC had rejected the construction of a new bobsleigh and luge track for the Winter Games hosts Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo due to the high costs involved.
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- Boris Rhein, the Minister President of Hesse, criticized the International Olympic Committee's stance on the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the General Assembly of the German Olympic Sports Federation in Frankfurt on the Main.
- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken a negative view of Germany's ambitions to host the 2026 Olympic bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions due to the Federal Minister of the Interior's desire to refuse entry to athletes from Russia and Belarus due to the war in Ukraine.
- According to the IOC, countries with such restrictions cannot be considered for hosting the Olympic Games.
- Boris Rhein, a CDU politician, strongly disagreed with the IOC's stance, stating that it would turn the Olympic idea on its head.
- He emphasized that the Olympic Games are about promoting peace and international understanding, and it is unacceptable for athletes from countries attacking Ukraine, like Russia, to compete against Ukrainian athletes.
- The German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) and Boris Rhein are based in Frankfurt on the Main, Hesse.
- Boris Rhein's comments came after the IOC rejected the construction of a new bobsleigh and luge track for the Winter Games hosts Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo due to high costs.
Source: www.stern.de
