The majority of Russians competing at the Olympic Games have supported the invasion of Ukraine, it was claimed yesterday.
The revelation prompted an outcry, with more than 450 Ukrainian athletes having been killed by the Kremlin’s brutal assault.
Their teammates face the prospect of competing in Paris alongside Russians ‘who support the commission of violent crimes against them’.
Russian tennis player Elena Vesnina allegedly ‘liked’ social media posts about ‘military feats’ of Russian soldiers killing Ukrainians and posts displaying the pro-war ‘Z’ symbol, according to human rights researchers.
It came as the mayor of Paris took a dip in the Seine to try to prove the polluted river was fit to host swimming events.
Olympic contestants’ support for Putin: Russian tennis player Elena Vesnina allegedly ‘liked’ social media posts about ‘military feats’ of Russian soldiers killing Ukrainians
Russian cyclist Alena Ivanchenko has been seen to ‘like’ several pro-war posts on social media
With the Opening Ceremony only nine days away, Anne Hidalgo needed to show that the river – where swimming has been banned for a century – is now fit for purpose.
‘The Seine is exquisite,’ she said after swimming 100 yards.
Russia and its ally Belarus were supposedly banned from world sport following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Yet 59 athletes from these two nations have been allowed to take part as ‘neutrals’, with Olympics chiefs ruling they can compete, but will not be able to display their nation’s flag or colours or have their national anthem played if they win a medal.
Of these, 31 have accepted the invitation to compete, of which ten out of 15 Russian and seven out of 16 Belarus athletes have allegedly indicated support for the war in Ukraine in violation of the International Olympic Committee’s neutrality rules.
Researchers at Global Rights Compliance, a human rights foundation, have compiled a dossier of social media posts and other evidence, and claimed the IOC had ‘turned a blind eye’.
Paris 2024 athletes from Belarus include swimmer Anastasiya Shkurdai is a representative of the country’s armed forces sports committee
The majority of Russians competing at the Olympic Games have supported the invasion of Ukraine , it has been claimed. Pictured: Russian tennis plater Pavel Kotov
With the Opening Ceremony only nine days away, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo needed to show that the river – where swimming has been banned for a century – is now fit for purpose
Among the examples, Russian cyclist Alena Ivanchenko ‘liked’ several pro-war posts on social media.
Paris 2024 athletes from Belarus include rower Yauheni Zalaty, who is a junior sergeant in the Belarusian army, and swimmer Anastasiya Shkurdai, who is a representative of the country’s armed forces sports committee.
Wayne Jordash KC, president of Global Rights Compliance, said: ‘The IOC is turning a blind eye to the involvement of Russian and Belarusian athletes who have demonstrated their support for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.’
Jeremy Pizzi, the foundation’s legal adviser, added: ‘This is leading to a situation where Ukrainian athletes are forced to compete alongside Russian and Belarusian athletes who support the commission of violent crimes against them.’
They called on the IOC to ban all ‘pro-war athletes’.
Last night the IOC said it could not comment on individual cases but its independent panel had ‘reviewed the athletes’ in accordance with its principles.
