Vadym Guttsait, the Ukrainian Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee, confirmed this in an interview with Associated Press: Ukraine could boycott the Paris 2024 Games if Russian and Belarusian athletes participate. According to his personal opinion, a boycott would be the only possible position. But the former fencer specifies that the decision does not entirely belong to him, it will be taken by the Ukrainian Olympic Committee. “ We will hold an extraordinary meeting and decide together whether we will participate or not, he explains. This is a very serious and difficult question for every athlete, for every coach who prepares all his life to go to the Olympic Games. But as our people die, as women and children are killed, as our cities are destroyed, we stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. In my opinion, it is more important than going to the competition. But we must make this political decision with our Olympic family. » Still according to Vadym Guttsait, Ukraine could express its opposition to a Russian presence in international competitions by boycotting, in one way or another, the Olympic qualifying events where Russia would be authorized. The European wrestling championships, in particular, scheduled for April in Zagreb, Croatia. In the event of the presence of a Russian team, the Ukrainians could forgo the competition, or go there but not take part in the events.
