Thomas Bach denied the International Olympic Committee is biding its time over deciding whether Russia and Belarus athletes can compete at Paris 2024 amounted to "kicking it down the road".
IOC president Bach spoke on Tuesday at a press conference after interim recommendations were issued to international federations and organisers of events regarding the involvement of Russians and Belarusians in events while war in Ukraine continues.
The Olympic body urged federations to exclude any athletes or support personnel "who actively support the war", along with anybody "contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies", and said teams from either country should not be allowed to compete in international sport for now.
However, in a statement, the IOC said: "Sports organisations must have the sole responsibility to decide which athletes can take part in international competitions based on their sporting merits and not on political grounds or because of their passports."
There is a clear possibility of Russian and Belarusian athletes being allowed to compete as neutrals at the Paris Olympics next year, although Bach stressed there has been no decision taken on that matter, explaining it has yet to be discussed by the IOC executive board.
Bach said the IOC was going along with a United Nations position, and when asked whether Olympic chiefs were simply waiting for the war to end, and holding fire on direct action until then, he refuted the contention.
"We are not kicking it down the road, and we are not waiting," Bach said. "I guess we all would like the war to end now, and this is what we are calling for, but as you can see for all the reasons we are giving the conditions are not related to the development of the war, they are related to the respect of the Olympic charter and the Olympic values, and there we have to address these questions whether somebody is actively supporting the war in whichever way."
Bach said a decision regarding next year's Olympics would be made "at the appropriate time", without indicating when that might be, saying it was important to monitor the latest recommendations "for as long as possible" before taking "an informed decision".
He said there was no timeline because "nobody knows what's happening tomorrow or in one week or in nine months, so we have just to monitor and then find the appropriate time".
Bach knows there is unease in some quarters about the IOC not taking a firm decision.
When asked about Russia being happy its athletes were being able to compete, and Ukraine being unhappy with the situation, Bach said: "We have been accused by the Russian side of being agents of the United States, and we have been accused by Ukrainian side of being promoters of the war, so we appear to be somewhere in the middle."
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina pulls out of French Open due to illness
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina pulled out of the French Open ahead of her third-round match because of illness.
The fourth seed was one of the favourites for the title having enjoyed a brilliant season and won the Italian Open in Rome last month.
She won both her first two matches comfortably against teenagers Brenda Fruhvirtova and Linda Noskova but withdrew minutes before she was due to take to Philippe Chatrier to face Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Rybakina said: “I was not feeling good already yesterday and the day before, so I didn’t sleep two nights and had some fever. Today I really tried in the warm-up but I feel that the right decision is to withdraw, because it’s really tough to play with these conditions.
“I saw the doctor and they said that actually it’s all a virus here in Paris. I guess with my allergy, immune system just went down and I picked up something. It’s difficult to perform and obviously to run and even breathe. So I think that was the only right decision I could make.
“Today I just wanted to give 100 per cent and obviously I’m far from being 100 per cent. It was unlucky for me. I just try to recover and do my best to be prepared for the grass season already.”
The timing is hugely unfortunate for the 23-year-old, who has established herself at the top of the tree in women’s tennis alongside Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek and was seeded to meet the Pole in the semi-finals.
“Of course I’m really upset not to be able to play but I guess that’s life,” added the Kazakhstan player. “There is a lot of ups and downs.”
Rybakina is due to play her first grass-court tournament in Berlin beginning on June 19 before heading to Eastbourne as she builds up to the defence of her Wimbledon title.
Gilbert expects much from young Reggae Girlz representatives in local women's league semis; lauds tenacity shown at U-20 Champs
Xavier Gilbert says the tenacity shown by Jamaica's young Reggae Girlz in their failed Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship campaign, should not be understated given the circumstances under which they entered the tournament.
Gilbert, the Head coach of local female outfit Frazsiers Whip, home of a number of the Under-20 players, to include Shaneil Buckley, Davia Richards, Tiny Seaton and Andrene Smith, among others, believes the Girlz had their task of securing an historic Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualification cut out for them, as they entered the tournament in the Dominican Republic with limited preparation and team chemistry.
As such, he praised the players and the Hugh Bradford-led coaching staff for the self-belief and fight shown when limiting heavily favoured powerhouses United States and Canada in 0-4 losses, before bouncing back for a 4-1 win over Panama to end their Group A outing on a high.
"We have to commend them for how they performed and the coaching staff for what they did with limited preparation playing against those teams (United States and Canada), who would have had way more camps than us going into that tournament," Gilbert said.
"So, we have to give them credit and we have to put things into context, it wasn't the strongest teams in some sense, but I think they showed a lot of fight. There are people who would probably be disappointed, and you can't fault them for their opinions, but I believe the Girlz must be applauded," he added.
Gilbert, who is also an assistant of the senior Reggae Girlz setup, is hoping those players can bring match fitness into play, as they are expected to be involved in Saturday's Jamaica Women’s Premier League (JWPL) first-leg semifinal action against Olympic Gardens at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence. Game time is 3:00 pm.
The winner of the two-leg tie will meet Cavaliers Women in the June 17 final.
"I am a little bit concerned about tired legs and fatigue so we will just have to manage those players as best as we can. In fact, I don't think I'll have the services of two of those players which is understated, so others will have to step up and we will see how it goes," Gilbert said.
Having already copped the knockout title, Gilbert is optimistic that they can add the League title to their accolades but is aware that they first have to get by a determined Olympic Gardens unit.
"We have played them a couple times we just have to ensure that we get them out of the game as early as possible and have them chase the game. I don't think their condition is as good as ours so will use that to our advantage," the tactician shared.
"Olympic Gardens is a team that can be up and down, if they come out with the right attitude and frame of mind then it's not going to be easy, so we have to be focused because if we are not tactically disciplined or lapse at any time, they can make our lives difficult," Gilbert noted.
Man City players will give everything to win FA Cup final – Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has promised Manchester City fans his side will “give everything” to beat rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
The neighbouring clubs clash in the competition’s Wembley showpiece for the first time as the domestic season reaches a mouth-watering climax on Saturday.
There is plenty of incentive for City as they look to claim the second leg of the treble and move a step closer to matching United’s 1999 haul of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies.
Yet even just taking the game in isolation, City manager Guardiola is well aware of how much simply beating United in a major final – after plenty of suffering at their hands in the past – would mean to supporters.
With that in mind, and his players fully focused, Guardiola has urged fans to savour the occasion.
He said: “I will ask to our fans, behave properly first and, secondly, go there to enjoy an incredible event, knowing the players will give everything to beat Man United.
“The consequences and the result, who knows it? I don’t know it. (United manager) Erik ten Hag doesn’t know it.
“It’s a football game. Enjoy the moment and enjoy next week to prepare for the (Champions League) final, to dream of seeing the team. It’s the best way.
“You have to understand anything can happen but we are going to do everything to beat United.
“I understand completely for City fans, who were in the shadow for decades behind United.
“We’ll try to do the best game as possible. So I would say have fun, enjoy the right portion of beers before the game and, that’s all. Enjoy it.”
The fact City are bidding for the treble could also give United extra motivation, however, as they not only look for a derby cup triumph but to preserve the uniqueness of their club’s own achievement 24 years ago.
“I could understand that, it belongs to them,” said Guardiola. “That’s normal. Sport is like that. It’s completely understandable.
“But it’s a football game. Who will be better will win.”
After an intensive schedule in the closing weeks of the Premier League season, City have had a full week to prepare of the fixture.
Guardiola even had time to attend a Sir Elton John concert in Manchester while some of the players went to watch Coldplay at the Etihad Stadium.
The City boss has no doubt the mental break has done his players good.
He said: “When you have these events in this city – and one of the legends, Sir Elton John – you have to use them.
“They’ve trained really good these last two training sessions. There’s a good mood in the locker room and on the pitch.
“We know what we are playing for. I don’t have to tell them. It is the final of the FA Cup against United, the chance to add another trophy. This is the mentality we have right now.”
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