Statement on the Hybrid Threats from russia to the International Sports Movement

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine welcomes the fair stance of the International Olympic Committee, in which the IOC condemns russia's use of sports for propaganda purposes.

For over a decade, the russian federation has been waging a hybrid war against Ukraine, culminating in a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, which continues to this day and has turned into the bloodiest war in Europe since World War II.

The aggressive war conducted by the russian federation with the support of the republic of belarus against Ukraine is just a part of the bloody intentions of the russian dictator. The russian federation uses hybrid warfare tools to destroy the world order and realize intentions that have been tragic for all previous dictators.

We emphasize that the russian political leadership disregards international law, violates internationally recognized borders of states, and uses sports as a means of propagating hatred. Through its actions, statements, and plans, russia shows contempt for the Olympic Charter, the guiding document of the international Olympic movement, and the International Olympic Committee, the leading body of the international Olympic movement.

The creation and funding by the russian government of the so-called «International Association of Friendship» (IAF) and the organization of the so-called summer and winter «Friendship Games» are direct evidence that russia is trying to create its own alternative to the International Olympic Committee, as well as its own alternative to the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

We perceive these attempts by the russian regime as a threat to the international sports movement and tools of hybrid warfare against the civilized world with the aim of destroying the world order.

We support the fair statement of the International Olympic Committee, which condemns russia's attempts to create alternative competitions and use sports for propaganda.

The presence of russia in international sports turns it into mere «games of friendship» — a demonstration as if nothing terrible is happening, russians continue to win Olympic licenses, receive awards, and prepare for competitions.

What about the Olympic Games, when it is entirely evident that russia will use any presence to politicize sports and legitimize the current regime?

The democratic world, part of which is the International Olympic Committee, must be stronger than the bloody putin's dictatorship, not feeding it by providing the largest platform in the world for spreading propaganda.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine has drawn the attention of governments around the world and sent relevant letters to the sports ministers of 82 countries, shedding light on the criminal intentions of the russian federation.

We consider athletes holding russian or belarusian citizenship, who have openly not condemned the rf aggression against Ukraine, as agents of hybrid influence, used by the russian and belarusian regimes to spread their propaganda.

Given the current situation, we believe that the absence of a public position on the war in Ukraine is an insufficient criterion for obtaining the status of individual neutral athletes (AIN) for citizens of russia and belarus who intend to participate in international sports events.

Citizenship is a symbol of agreement between the state and the citizen, imposing mutual rights and obligations.

We urge the exclusion of athletes holding russian or belarusian citizenship from participating in any international competitions, including the Olympic Games, in any status.

We consider it unacceptable for the russian federation to organize the so-called «Friendship Games» and present this propagandistic event as an «alternative to the Olympics». There is no alternative to the Olympic Games.

Acting Minister for Youth and Sports of Ukraine 

Matvii Bidnyi