Президент Национального олимпийского комитета Республики Беларусь Виктор Лукашенко. Фото: noc.by
President of the National Olympic Committee of Belarus Viktar Lukashenka thanked the International Olympic Committee and its president Kirsty Coventry for lifting the ban on holding international competitions in Belarus and for removing restrictions on young athletes. The message remained in the NOC’s official Telegram channel for several minutes before being deleted.
Lukashenka believes the IOC’s decision will improve the situation for Belarusian athletes.
“Without doubt, this decision is very important and positive. It is the first official decision of the IOC Executive Board since 2023 that significantly improves the situation of Belarusian athletes by lifting all restrictions on young competitors. Our young athletes are again allowed to compete in team and game sports — and, most importantly, under the Belarusian flag and anthem. Of course, for the decision to take effect, all international federations must implement it, which will obviously take some time,” the statement said.
The head of the NOC placed special emphasis on the permission to host competitions in Belarus.
“I would especially like to highlight the point lifting the ban on holding international sporting events in Belarus, which opens up great opportunities and prospects for expanding international cooperation,” he said.
Viktar Lukashenka noted that both IOC decisions are interim. He said that the position of the Belarusian authorities “was absolutely correct from the outset” and expressed satisfaction that the IOC supported it.
The NOC president said work to lift sports-related sanctions would continue and highlighted the role of IOC President Kirsty Coventry in the decisions taken.
“We thank the IOC Executive Board for its balanced and impartial decision, which is based on the fundamental principles of Olympism. The official statement placed special emphasis on the thesis of the political neutrality of the Olympic Movement. We see great merit in IOC President Kirsty Coventry, whose goal, as it seems to us, is to unite the world through sport — not just in words but in deeds,” the statement said.
As a reminder, on 11 December the IOC recommended that international federations not restrict young athletes holding Russian or Belarusian passports from participating in international youth competitions, both in individual and team sports. The IOC also lifted its ban on holding international competitions in Belarus.
Update: At 15:15 the post reappeared in the NOC channel.