Germany can ban Russian athletes from entering the competition

German Interior Minister Nancy Feser said on Monday that her department may deny Russian athletes visas to participate in competitions, even if they are officially admitted there. According to the minister, Germany will not accept Russian athletes, even if the International Olympic Committee allows it.

Nancy Feather called the possibility of participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus “a spit in the face of Ukrainian athletes”. “Countries that host major sports competitions are not powerless. They can use the instrument of issuing visas to prevent the participation of Russians,” she emphasized.

At the same time, the minister ruled out a boycott of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, since, according to her, German athletes who have been preparing for these competitions for a long time would suffer as a result.

• At the end of March, the International Olympic Committee recommended allowing athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions in neutral status. In addition, the condition of admission for athletes is the absence of support for the war on their part and the absence of connections with the armies and power structures of their states. Therefore, athletes associated with army sports clubs, for example, with the Russian CSKA, will not be able to take part in the competition.
• On March 31, the Government of Ukraine forbade Ukrainian athletes to participate in competitions where there will be athletes from Russia or Belarus. The President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, Vadym Gutzait, said that if Russians and Belarusians are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, Ukrainians will boycott the competitions.