One more. The International Badminton Federation (BWF) has just sided with the IOC on the question of a return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competitions. The body announced Tuesday August 29 in a press release: players from the two countries in conflict with Ukraine will be authorized in international tournaments, under conditions of neutrality, from February 26, 2024. “ The BWF Council voted to approve a regulatory framework allowing athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports to start competing as neutrals », indicates the press release. Poul-Erik Hoyer, the president of the body, specifies: “ The BWF Council aligns itself with the principles of the IOC and the sports movement. We believe that the decision to lift the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes who meet the criteria to participate as individual neutral athletes is a positive step forward in our efforts to promote peace and solidarity. » In itself, the BWF's decision is not very unexpected. The body joins the long line of international federations having decided, in recent months, to follow the recommendations of the IOC Executive Board. But the case of badminton is, despite everything, not entirely comparable to the others. Initially, the BWF had indeed chosen to turn its back on the IOC on the Russian question. Last April, its Council decided to indefinitely extend the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions. But unlike athletics, surfing or horse riding, in particular, badminton ultimately preferred to go backwards.
