Draft resolution #9409 of June 22, 2023 

Cosponsors: a group of seven MPs from the factions Batkivshchyna, Servant of the People, and Platform for Life and Peace 

Status: submitted to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine 

Who is affected: diplomats, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the International Olympic Committee, and athletes 

Summary of the resolution: the Parliament of Ukraine will appeal to the leaders and parliaments of foreign countries: 

  • to reconsider the misguided policy of the International Olympic Committee allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international sports competitions under a neutral flag 
  • to denounce the shameful practice of allowing active service members from Russia and Belarus to participate in sports competitions 
  • to ban the entry of Russian and Belarusian athletes and delegations. In particular, the Parliament will appeal to Emmanuel Macron and others responsible for the organization of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. 

Why this is important: 

  • the Ukrainian government and representatives of some other countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland, consistently insist on excluding Russian and Belarusian athletes from the international sports system. On the other hand, the International Olympic Committee urged to loosen the restrictions on Russians and allow them to compete under a neutral flag 
  • because of the position of the International Olympic Committee, Vadym Gutzeit, the President of the National Olympic Committee and Minister of Youth and Sports, threatens to boycott the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris 
  • in response to the policy of the International Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Ukraine has adopted a decree prohibiting Ukrainian national teams from participating in tournaments alongside athletes from Russia and Belarus. Federations violating this prohibition will be under threat of losing their status. 

What is right: the resolution will put pressure on the international community to punish Russian sports federations, participants, and supporters of Russia’s war against Ukraine. 

What is wrong: Ukraine’s position on sensitive issues must be balanced and realistic. Otherwise, it can devalue the work of Ukrainian diplomats and undermine the attitude towards Ukraine as a state. The International Olympic Committee does not support the idea of a full ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in sports competitions, so the proposal defined in the resolution is a dead end. 

Alternative solution: to develop and promote a different position that would protect Ukraine’s national interests and prevent Russian and Belarusian active service members from participating in international sports competitions. For example, only those athletes who condemn the war and stand against Russia’s policy should be allowed to participate. This will allow to exclude supporters of the war and the criminal regime.