22 year old Ukrainian European youth boxing champion, Maksym Galinichev has been killed whilst defending Ukraine in the Luhansk region. He volunteered for the Ukrainian army and leaves behind a three year old daughter. Vichnaya Pamyat to a Ukrainian hero.
Thank you to the hundreds in our community who wrote to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) to strongly express our demand that Russia and Belarus be banned from the 2024 Olympics because of the death and destruction they have unleashed in their war against Ukraine.
On 28 March 2023, due to collective pressure from Ukraine and around the world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced it would postpone the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The IOC recommended the return to international competition of Russian and Belarusian athletes as ‘neutral’ athletes, but with tougher restrictions than previously announced. No Russian or Belarusian teams will be allowed; no athletes who have publicly supported the war; no athletes with military links. The IOC also tripled the fund for the NOC of Ukraine to US$7.5 million (an extra US$5 million due to our collective pressure).
But we remain committed that the war should be condemned in no uncertain terms by the sporting world. Ukrainian athletes deserve not to be discriminated against. Around 3,000 have joined the defense effort; over 220 have died; others train and live while bombs explode nearby. And Russian athletes, whether ‘neutral’ or not, will continue to be used for Russian propaganda.
The AFUO working party will continue to push for Australian sporting federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes. The World Athletics Federation has shown the way by reaffirming its ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes for the foreseeable future. 300 active and former fencers have called on IOC Chief Bach, who won gold at the 1976 Olympics, to also uphold the ban.
We will keep you posted about further developments. Thank you for joining us.
