LAUSANNE:
The International Fencing Federation (FIE) decided on Friday to allow it Russia and Belarusian athletes to compete in Olympic qualifying games, showing anger in Ukraine.
Fencing became the first Olympic sport to be re-opened to competitors from both countries, a year after they were expelled due to the war in Ukraine.
After the decision at an extraordinary meeting in Lausanne, Ukrainian supporters were “shocked” but their Russian counterparts expressed their “thanks”.
Fencing’s qualification process for the Paris 2024 Olympics is due to begin in April.
The FIE’s decision will start from April “under possible recommendations or future decisions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” a representative told AFP.
Players can be eligible and still be banned by the IOC from the Games.
About 65 percent of the FIE voted for the return to the competition of Russian and Belarusian players, teams and officials, the delegate did not want to reveal his name to AFP.
“We are very shocked and angered by this decision and we immediately call a meeting of the Presidium to decide our response to the FIE’s decision and its appeal,” the Ukrainian Fencing Federation said in a statement.
Their Russian counterparts welcomed the decision.
“The first step has been taken. I thank my friends from the foreign federation,” Ilgar Mamedov, president of the Russian Fencing Federation, said the Ria Novosti news agency.
He said he’s worried there won’t be time for “renewal” in mid-April.
The Ukrainian representative tried to remove the vote from the congress but was rejected by 136 voters.
In January, the IOC said it was looking for a “way” for Russians to participate in the Games.
Following the announcement, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) offered the opportunity for athletes from the two countries to compete in the Asian Games in this year.
This is a very important process because they can get qualifying marks in the competition in Asia so they can compete in Paris.
The African Olympic Committee voted on March 4 to support the Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the competition. 2024 Paris Olympics.
Russian divers won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, competing under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee.
Russia has long played an important role in FIE. It was run for 14 years by the Russian Alisher Ousmanov who was announced by the European Union after the invasion of Ukraine and passed the temporary leadership to Emmanuel Katsiadakis, a Greek.
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