OREANDA-NEWS  About 30 countries have sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) against the return of Russian athletes to tournaments. This is reported by the Associated Press.

The United States, Great Britain, Germany and France joined the appeal. It is clarified that the position on the admission of Russians will not change until the criteria for the neutrality of athletes to participate in competitions are established. "The condition of the IOC is not to identify itself with a specific country. However, athletes receive direct financial support from their countries, unlike, for example, professional tennis players," the statement said.

The letter recalled that the common position of the countries has always been the inadmissibility of discrimination on the basis of nationality. However, the links between Russian athletes and the Russian armed forces cause them concern.

The IOC is considering the possibility of admitting Russians to the 2024 Games in a neutral status, but no final decision has been made on this issue. The competition in Paris is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.