IOC: Bach’s visit to Ukraine at Zelensky’s invitation is not planned
The IOC said that Thomas Bach had already visited Ukraine, and also called unacceptable “slanderous statements” the words of an adviser to the presidential office, Vladimir Zelensky, who accused the organization of promoting destruction due to the admission of Russians
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IOC President Thomas Bach is not currently planning a visit to Ukraine, reported on the IOC website.
“The IOC President visited Ukraine in the summer of 2022 at the invitation of the National Olympic Committee. <...> At present, there are no plans for a new visit to Ukraine,” the IOC said in response to a question regarding Bach’s invitation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to come to the war zone.
The IOC noted that during the previous visit, Bach talked with Ukrainian athletes, saw the sports infrastructure damaged during the special operation, and met with Zelensky “for a long conversation.”
The IOC also responded to comment Mikhail Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky’s office, who called the organization “a promoter of murder and destruction.” The IOC said it “rejects in the strongest possible terms the slanderous statements made by some Ukrainian officials”.
Zelensky invited Bach to Bakhmut (Russian name – Artemovsk), located in the north of the DPR, in response to statement IOC dated January 25 on the possibility of the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions subject to strict conditions, which are still being discussed.
Press Secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov declared “RBC Sport” that in the IOC’s wording on the admission of Russians “too much politics.”
IOC February 2 clarifiedthat there is no talk regarding the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the Olympics yet, the organization is discussing the participation of athletes from the two countries in tournaments in Asia.
