"One cannot try to be neutral when the foundations of peaceful life are being destroyed and universal human values ​​are being ignored," said Zelenskyy in response to the Russian invasion of his country. Since the beginning of the war in February, "184 Ukrainian athletes have died as a result of Russian actions".

Russian athletes are currently banned from all international competitions because of Moscow's war of aggression in Ukraine. However, the German IOC President Bach said last week that "possibilities" were being sought to enable their participation again. "They cannot be punished for the actions of their governments," Bach said.