Kirsty Coventry backs lifting of Belarus and Russia suspension for 2024 Paris Olympics

• Published date: 03 February 2023
• Publication title: New Zimbabwe

By Staff ReporterMINISTER of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, who also serves as a member in the International Olympic Committee, Kirsty Coventry has backed the reinstatementof Belarusian and Russian athletesin next year's Paris Olympics.Belarusian and Russian athleteswere suspendedfrom participating in IOC sanctionedgames following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The IOC is moving to allow Belarusian and Russian athletes to compete in qualifying games as neutrals.I've obviously been consulted and I've been speaking to a lot of different athletes and members, and the way in which the President [Thomas Bach] has decided to have those consultations, I think it has to happen.

"At the end of the day, our Olympic Values are to be open and welcome everyone, so I agree that it's a first step, and let's see how that then plays out," she toldinsidethegames,an Olympic...