The World Olympians Association (WOA) Executive Committee recently met to discuss the invasion of Ukraine and its ramifications on international sport.
One important decision that came about as a result of the meeting, was the association’s assertion the “right of Olympians and athletes as individuals to participate in sporting events must be upheld and promoted.”
The statement came about a month after the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendation not to invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials at international sports competitions.
The IOC cited protecting the “integrity of global sports competitions” and the “safety of all the participants” as key factors behind its recommendation to international sports federations and competition organizers.
However, the WOA Executive Committee decided to distinguish itself from that recommendation.
They pointed to principles four and six of the fundamental principles of Olympism that identify the “practice of sport” as a “human right” that should be maintained “without discrimination of any kind,” including on the basis of “race, color, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
The WOA Executive Committee also cited the “Declaration of Support for the Olympic Charter” signed by Olympians from all five continents at WOA’s World Olympians Forum in 2015. The declaration included a pledge “to oppose any political or governmental interference in the autonomy of sports organizations which might prevent an athlete from exercising their right to compete in the Olympic Games or other major sporting events which also embody the Olympic spirit.”
Ultimately, the WOA Executive Committee came to the position that any decision on whether or not to compete in a competition should be left up to each individual athlete based on the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter.
A spokesman on behalf of WOA told Around the Rings, “the WOA Executive Committee understands and respects the recommendation of the IOC, however, we do believe decisions on whether to compete or not should be left to each individual athlete as outlined by the Olympic Charter.”