Ukrainian Athletes Call For Russia And Belarus To Be Suspended From IOC Membership

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, during the closing ceremony of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics at the National Stadium, February 20, 2022. (Photo: ANTARA/AFP/SEBASTIEN BOZON)

JAKARTA - Athletes from Ukraine and a number of other countries have asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to suspend Russia and Belarus and immediately ban the two countries from participating in sporting events.

Ukraine's Health Ministry said Sunday that 352 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed since Russia invaded the country last week. Belarus has been the main place from which the invasion was launched.

Russia has called its actions in Ukraine a "special operation".

"Russia's invasion of Ukraine, backed by Belarus, is a clear violation of the Olympic and Paralympic Charter and is a violation that must be met with severe sanctions," the athletes said in an open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Andrew. Parsons as quoted by Antara.

The letter, issued by the Global Athlete movement aimed at empowering athletes, said Ukrainian sportsmen and their families in the country were in "grave danger" and that it was very difficult to talk to them when they were in bomb shelters.

The letter also stated that refusing to take swift action in suspending the Russian and Belarusian National Olympic Committees would be the wrong message.

"Your lack of action sends a message to every athlete in the world that you have chosen the interests of Russia and Belarus over the interests of athletes. Your legacy will be determined by your actions," the athletes wrote in the letter.

The letter received widespread support, including from former British marathon runner Paula Radcliffe and former Canadian cross-country skier Beckie Scott.

The IOC said international sports federations should move or cancel all sporting tournaments planned for Russia or Belarus, while the IOC executive said the Russian and Belarusian national flags were prohibited from flying in all international sporting events.