Baltic: Foreign ministers concerned over Russian, Belarusian athletes at Paris Olympics

The foreign ministers of the three Baltic States have sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), expressing concern about recommendations to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris under a neutral flag, BNS reports. In their joint letter to IOC president Thomas Bach, the ministers argued that the IOC’s position was unjustifiable, noting that the Russian and Belarusian athletes were supported by their governments and businesses supporting the Russian and Belarusian regimes. Also, Russia has used “neutral” athletes in state propaganda to glorify its armed forces and promote military recruitment, the foreign ministers pointed out.