Participation of Belarusian athletes in Paris 2024 Summer Olympics remains the main goal

This was stated by the NOC Belarus President Viktor Lukashenko during the opening of the III National Athletes' Forum in Minsk.

Viktor Lukashenko noted that sport is called the universal language of communication, and this year Belarus and Russia have managed to create good conditions for training and competitions.

«Together with the Russian Olympic Committee, we tried to look for various forms of support that you appreciated,» Viktor Lukashenko said addressing the athletes. «As for the Olympics in Paris, the latest IOC statements, in our opinion, are aimed at a positive solution to the issue, there is a «warming» but there is still work to be done until the real «summer». Dear athletes, participation in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics remains our main goal.»

NOC Belarus President noted, that cooperation with the Russian Olympic Committee will be continued in the spirit of mutual respect and strengthening of trusting partnership and, despite the international situation, everything possible will be done so that sport becomes absolutely open.

It was mentioned that the Olympic Charter directly states that the goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view promoting a peaceful society. These goals are the main ones for all international sports, they should be striven for and they should be developed.

According to Viktor Lukashenko, the pressure on Belarusian and Russian athletes continues. Moreover, some countries have begun to ban their athletes from participating in tournaments with the participation of Belarusians and Russians and even call for donating part of the prize money to support the armed forces of Ukraine.

NOC Belarus President also noted that a lot of work is being done to clarify the conditions for the admission of Belarusian athletes to international tournaments, and we are not yet talking about the Olympic qualification and the Olympics itself. «There should be some red line here that we cannot cross: only with respect for our country and our athletes we will take part in competitions. We will not rush into a whirlpool, if only we were allowed to participate in tournaments. There are certain principles that we will adhere to,» said Viktor Lukashenko.