Russian and Belarusian Athletes Barred from Asian Games 2023

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be participating in the Asian Games scheduled to take place in China this month. The decision comes after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed the plan “not feasible.” This exclusion is a consequence of the ongoing geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

IOC’s Stance on Russian and Belarusian Athletes

Earlier this year, the International Olympic Committee expressed interest in finding a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In a meeting held in Bangkok in July, the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia voted in favor of allowing a maximum of 500 competitors from these countries to compete. This was seen as an opportunity for athletes to meet qualification standards for the Olympics.

Technical Hurdles Lead to Exclusion

The IOC spokesperson clarified, “The concept of the participation of athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports at the Asian Games 2023 was explored, as discussed at the Olympic Summit in December 2022, but was not feasible due to technical reasons.”

While there was a desire to incorporate Russian and Belarusian athletes into the Asian Games, logistical and technical challenges proved insurmountable. As a result, both countries have officially been excluded from participating in the upcoming Asian Games.

Asian Games 2023 Details

The Asian Games are scheduled to commence in Hangzhou on September 23 and will run until October 8. However, Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be among the participants in this edition of the Games due to the IOC’s decision.

(This story has not been edited by Smartkhabrinews staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – AFP)

Tags: Asian Games 2023, International Olympic Committee, Russian athletes, Belarusian athletes, Olympic Council of Asia, Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Geopolitical tensions, Ukraine crisis