Add Category
Russia's war against Ukraine has claimed the lives of 262 Ukrainian athletes and destroyed 363 sports facilities, according to the country's sports minister, Vadym Huttsait.
- The IOC recommended the gradual return of Russian athletes to international competition as neutrals
- Russia's participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics is still undecided
- Ukraine says its athletes won't be allowed to take part in qualifying events if they have to compete against Russians
Meeting the visiting president of the International Federation of Gymnastics, Morinari Watanabe, Mr Huttsait said no athletes from Russia should be allowed at the Olympics or other sports competitions.
"They all support this war and attend events held in support of this war," Mr Huttsait said, according to a transcript on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's website.
The International Olympic Committee has recommended the gradual return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competition as neutrals. It has not decided on whether they can participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
On Friday, local time, Ukraine said its athletes will not be allowed to take part in qualifying events for the 2024 Games if they have to compete against Russians, a decision the IOC has criticised.
Reuters could not independently verify the number of Ukrainian athletes killed nor how many facilities have been destroyed.
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, a number of Ukrainian national-level athletes have taken up arms voluntarily to defend their country.
Among those killed this year alone have been figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who died in combat near Bakhmut, and Volodymyr Androshchuk, 22, a decathlon champion who had been a future Olympic hopeful.
Reuters