The Albanese government and the Australian Olympic Committee are at loggerheads over whether Russian and Belarusian athletes should be permitted to compete at the 2024 Olympics.
In January, the International Olympic Committee paved the way for athletes from the two nations to contest the Games in Paris through a “neutral athlete” status, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, on the basis that “no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport”.
At the time, the AOC issued a statement backing the IOC’s position. But on Tuesday, the Albanese government joined more than 30 nations, including host country France, the US and the UK, in calling for them to be barred.
“We do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed back into competition,” said the statement. “Noting the IOC’s stated position that no final decisions have been made, we strongly urge the IOC to address the questions identified by all countries and reconsider its proposal accordingly.
“We also note that Russia and Belarus have it in their own hands to pave the way for their athletes’ full return to the international sports community, namely by ending the war they started.”
The statement noted that “in Russia and Belarus sport and politics are closely intertwined” and questioned whether it was feasible for their athletes to compete as neutrals. “The strong links and affiliations between Russian athletes and the Russian military are also of clear concern,” the statement added. “Our collective approach throughout has therefore never been one of discrimination simply on the basis of nationality, but these strong concerns need to be dealt with by the IOC.”
Australia was not initially on the list of signatories to the statement, circulated on Monday, but was added on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the federal sports minister, Anika Wells, told the Nine newspapers the absence was due to timezone issues.
The federal government’s position is at odds with the AOC, which is independent but benefits from significant government funding through its member federations. In a statement issued to Guardian Australia on Tuesday evening, the AOC reiterated its support for the IOC.
“This is a complex and very difficult issue,” an AOC spokesperson said. “The IOC has a mandate to bring the world together through peaceful competition. Sport gives us that hope.”
The statement noted the “significant” sporting sanctions against Russia, and the IOC’s solidarity fund for Ukrainian athletes.
“The AOC supports the IOC’s position that the role of sport is to bring the world together through peaceful competition – the role of sport is to promote harmony and not punish individual athletes for the policies and action of their governments,” it added. “We cannot discriminate against athletes based on their passports or the actions of their governments.”
Australia is due to host the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. The sports minister was contacted for comment.
