Marcin Przydacz was speaking after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) this week recommended that athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus be allowed to return to international competition under a neutral flag.
Przydacz, who is a senior foreign policy adviser to Polish President Andrzej Duda, told public broadcaster Polish Radio on Thursday that "the overall thrust of Polish foreign policy and diplomatic efforts" in the near term should focus on "ensuring that this decision is reversed."
"We will build a broader coalition to pressure the IOC because it was simply a bad decision," Przydacz announced.
'Betrayal of the true spirit of sport': Polish PM
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday that the IOC's decision to allow the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competition as neutrals "is an outrage and a betrayal of the true spirit of sport.”
He added that he instructed his Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk "to inform the IOC executives about our firm opposition."
"We will do everything in our power to keep sports free of Russian influence," Morawiecki declared.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. Photo: PAP/EPA/ROBERT GHEMENT
IOC recommends return of Russian, Belarusian athletes as neutrals
The IOC on Tuesday recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes who have not actively supported the war in Ukraine and have no military links be allowed to return to international competition as neutrals, according to news reports.
The recommendation does not apply to next year’s Olympic Games in Paris and whether Russians and Belarusians should be able to compete in them, IOC President Thomas Bach told reporters.
That decision will be made separately “at the appropriate time,” he announced.
‘Day of shame’: Polish deputy FM
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Piotr Wawrzyk warned on Tuesday that the IOC’s recommendation could “provide fuel" for Russian propaganda.
Wawrzyk said: “It’s a day of absolute shame for the IOC.”
In February, Poland’s sports ministry joined forces with its counterparts in 34 other countries in calling for Russian and Belarusian athletes to be banned from international competition.
A statement issued at the time said that all these countries would seek to ensure that Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from international sports, including next year’s Paris Olympics, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Piotr Wawrzyk. Photo: Polish Radio/PR24/Robert Bartosewicz
Polish Olympic body expresses ‘regret’ at IOC decision
The Polish Olympic Committee (PKOl) on Tuesday expressed its “regret” at the IOC’s decision to allow the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to competition under a neutral flag.
The Polish Olympic body said that “until the assault on Ukraine is stopped and the war is ended,” Russian and Belarusian athletes “should not be allowed to compete" in next year's Olympics in Paris.
The PKOl also said it would continue to work with other countries and national Olympic committees “to persuade the IOC to not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Olympic Games.”
A rally in front of the IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland against a plan by the International Olympic Committee to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Olympics under a neutral flag. Photo: EPA/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT
Thursday is day 400 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP
