The Asian Games could host 500 athletes from Russia and 500 athletes from Belarus

Five hundred Russian athletes and as many Belarusian athletes could participate (in twelve sports) in the Asian Games, which will take place from 23 September to 8 October in Hangzhou (eastern China). The announcement was made by Husain Al-Musallam, Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), on July 8 at the OCA General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.

This participation, which would be the first of Russian and Belarusian athletes in an international multidisciplinary competition, would only take place under several conditions: these athletes would have to line up individually, under a neutral flag and without being able to claim medals. However, the Asian Games could offer a chance for Olympic quotas. Furthermore, no Russian or Belarusian politicians would be invited.

In late March, the IOC recommended that international sports federations reinstate Russians and Belarusians under a neutral flag, provided they do not support the war in Ukraine. A dozen federations have already done so. Including judo, on the occasion of the last World Cup, in Qatar, or even fencing, which has chosen to organize the individual European Championships in Bulgaria rather than in Poland, as part of the European Games, in order to welcome the Russians and Belarusians.

But the decision on the Paris 2024 Olympics has yet to be made. On 21 June, the executive committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) preferred to postpone any communication on the matter. “There is still a long time to make this decision”he supported the organization, adding that he could not “give schedule” more precise.

Read also: Russians and Belarusians at the Olympics: Council of Europe calls for exclusion, IOC wants to take its time

As for the Asian Games, the final decision remains to be made there as well. It will be carried out jointly by the OCA, the IOC, the Asian Games Organizing Committee and the international and Asian sports federations.

Meanwhile, the Russian side has received the OCA’s statements with caution and a lot of skepticism. “In recent months we have heard a lot of speculation about the possibility of participating in various international tournaments. In most cases, the words have remained words., reacted the president of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov. He assured him he didn’t “I haven’t received an invitation yet”.

By James Brown

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