President Thomas Bach stresses the neutrality of the International Olympic Committee after a Palestinian call for Israel to be barred from the Paris Games over the war on Hamas in Gaza.
As the Israeli team settles into the Athletes’ Village, the IOC has studied a letter from the Palestine Olympic Committee asking Bach to ban the Israelis, citing the bombings of the Gaza Strip as an alleged breach of the Olympic truce.
But Bach says in a press conference: “The position of the IOC is very clear. We have two National Olympic Committees, that is the difference with the world of politics, and in this respect both have been living in peaceful co-existence.”
“The Palestinian NOC has greatly benefitted. Palestine is not a recognized member state of the UN but the NOC is a recognized National Olympic Committee enjoying the equal rights and opportunities like all the other NOCs.”
He adds: “We are not in the political business, we are there to accomplish our mission to get the athletes together.”
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
