Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemns the IOC's decision to allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in the 2024 Olympics

The Ministry published a statement on its website.

The Ministry claims that it has repeatedly explained to the Committee and international partners the risks of athletes from Belarus and Russia returning to competition.

"Belarusian and especially Russian athletes often represent sports organisations associated with the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Some of them are in active Russian military service, and some wear symbols of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine on their sports uniforms," the Foreign Ministry's statement says.

It will be recalled that on December 8, the International Olympic Committee published a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics in a neutral status. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the decision "shameful".