Europe follows the World. Meeting on Wednesday March 2 to discuss a position to adopt in the face of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, the executive committee of the Association of European Olympic Committees (EOC) unsurprisingly lined up behind the recommendation of the IOC, announced at the beginning of the week. He made the decision to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from the upcoming winter European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF). The multi-sport event is scheduled to be held in Vuokatti, Finland, from March 20 to 25, 2022. The IOC statement provides for “ exceptional provisions » for organizers of events that need to take place within a very short time frame. The Finns at the helm of the 2022 Winter EYOF are in this case. But the EOC nevertheless leaned towards the option of exclusion, for “ preserve the integrity of the event“. The European Youth Olympic Festival is reserved for athletes aged 14 to 18.
