Vice president: Belarus’ NOC is in constant contact with IOC

“The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Belarus stays in constant contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). We constantly communicate and try to rectify the situation related to the ban of Belarusian athletes from international competitions,” Belarus’ NOC Vice President Dzmitry Dauhalionak said.

In his words, Belarus is always open to dialogue. “We have emphasized it, we have shown that sport and politics should not mix up,” the NOC vice president said.

According to Dzmitry Dauhalionak, Belarus met all the conditions regarding the status of neutrality of athletes at the Olympic Games.

In his words, the international winter sports federations have not yet made a final decision on Belarusians.

“As for summer sports, the situation is not bad. Our athletes are admitted to all competitions, except for athletics,” Dzmitry Dauhalionak said. He mentioned that the president of the international federation is absolutely against it.

The NOC vice president expressed the opinion that the decision on Belarus would depend on the results of the upcoming election of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, slated for March 2025.

“The election campaign (it has already started in the IOC) brings about a quiet period. Everyone will be watching the way the wind will blow. Only then, maybe, they will come back to this issue,” Dzmitry Dauhalionak said.

The final list of candidates for the post of IOC head will be presented on 30 January 2025.

The International Olympic Committee membership will meet in Lausanne on that day for the presentation by the candidates for the IOC presidency and an Extraordinary IOC Session to discuss the venue for the 2028 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Seven candidates will compete in the election for the IOC presidency. In August 2024, current IOC president Thomas Bach announced that he would step down at the end of his term. He headed the IOC for more than ten years, since 2013.

The election of the new head of the organization will be held during the IOC session on 18-21 March 2025. The event will be held in Athens, Greece.

Press service of the NOC of Belarus
Photo by the NOC of Belarus