Latvian Athletes to Boycott Olympic Games if Russians Participate

The president of the Latvian National Olympic Committee, Žoržs Tikmers, has announced that Latvian athletes are prepared to boycott the Olympic Games if athletes from Russia and Belarus participate, as reported by RIA Novosti.

“If these Olympic Games were held now, and athletes from Russia and Belarus participated, I believe that the Latvian team would not go to these Games,” Tikmers said during a broadcast on Latvian television.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had previously released a statement indicating that it is considering the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes who have not actively supported the military operation in Ukraine. Additionally, athletes from Russia and Belarus must meet several other requirements, including undergoing complete anti-doping testing.

IOC president Thomas Bach, in an interview with Der Spiegel, stated that participation by Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Games is permitted without flags or anthems, emphasizing that the IOC does not support discrimination based on nationality.