International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Games cannot be arbiters in political disputes — IOC President Thomas Bach, during a speech at a political forum, Reuters quotes

Bach said that the Games should stay away from politics, "otherwise they will lose their unifying power." But, at the same time, he noted that it was necessary to be "politically neutral, not apolitical." 

"We are facing a dilemma: we feel the suffering of the Ukrainian people and athletes, and, on the other hand, as a global organisation, we are responsible for human rights and the Olympic Charter. Both do not allow for such total isolation of people with a particular passport," the IOC President said.

On January 25, the International Olympic Committee proposed to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under a neutral flag. 

Ukraine opposed the idea of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under a neutral flag at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

On May 19, 34 countries called on the International Olympic Committee to exclude Russia and Belarus from the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The document was also signed by France, which will host the Olympics.