Russian & Belarusian observe and area athletes ‘unlikely’ to be at Paris Olympics – Lord Coe
| Hosts: Budapest Dates: 19-27 August |
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Russian and Belarusian observe and area athletes are “unlikely” to have the ability to compete on the 2024 Olympics, says World Athletics president Lord Coe.
The Worldwide Olympics Committee (IOC) has mentioned athletes ought to be capable of compete as neutrals.
Nevertheless, Lord Coe mentioned World Athletics’ place was “very clear”.
He was talking in Budapest earlier than the World Athletics Championships which begin on Saturday, having been re-elected for a 3rd and closing time period as head of observe and area’s governing physique alongside a brand new council.
The IOC has not made a closing name for the Olympics, and may solely give broad suggestions – which means particular person sports activities can nonetheless select to implement bans.
“The brand new council, and I am not going to talk for them upfront, however I might be very stunned if there’s any shift in that place,” Lord Coe mentioned.
The 2-time British Olympic champion, 66, has led World Athletics, previously the Worldwide Affiliation of Athletics Federations, since 2015.
When World Athletics introduced its ban in March, he mentioned “unprecedented sanctions” on Russia and Belarus by “international locations and industries” are the “solely approach to restore peace”.
Talking on Thursday, Lord Coe added: “I haven’t got a crystal ball, I comply with world occasions in the identical manner that you simply all do.
“Now we have threat committees, we’ve working teams that may at all times be eager to be throughout that and what may the circumstances seem like if there’s any shift within the state of affairs however I’ve to say that appears unlikely for the time being with the place we’re with occasions in Ukraine.”
The IOC has been criticised for saying it’s “exploring a pathway” for Russian and Belarusians to compete, with the UK amongst greater than 30 international locations to pledge assist for a ban.
It up to date its stance final month, saying it was nonetheless fine-tuning plans for the Olympics subsequent summer season.
Lord Coe’s third time period accountable for World Athletics will run till 2027 after he was re-elected unopposed, whereas he has refused to rule out a bid for the IOC presidency in 2025.
“I genuinely have not dominated it in or definitely have not dominated it out,” he mentioned.
“My major goal was to verify we had the very best council, the strongest government board to finish the work that I set out in 2015.”
He mentioned over his time period he wished to steer a “actually vital shift” in the way in which the game is introduced to maintain up with altering audiences.
