Ukrainian Sports Officials Accuse IOC of Allowing Russian Return to Global Competitions

Ukraine’s Curling Scene and International Hurdles

According to Главком: Oleksii Perevezentsev, first vice president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine and head of the Ukrainian Curling Federation, spoke in an interview about the state of curling in Ukraine and the ongoing fight against the reinstatement of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international events. Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the national curling program was relocated to Scotland, where the Ukrainian Curling Championship is now also held. Perevezentsev recalled that in 2012, Sergey Bubka asked him to bring order to the Ukrainian Curling Federation, at a time when Ukraine was preparing a bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Ukraine’s curling team secured a spot at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, where they recorded one win and four losses. Perevezentsev stated:

“We moved our national curling program to Scotland at the start of the full-scale aggression in 2022.” - Oleksii Perevezentsev

International Politics and Athlete Participation

In the realm of international politics, World Curling has allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus under the age of 21 to compete. However, Russian juniors were denied visas to participate in the World Championship in Canada. Dmitry Svishchev, head of the Russian Curling Federation, is under sanctions from the U.S., EU, UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, and Ukraine. Russia’s Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev also serves as president of the Russian Olympic Committee. Before the 2024 Olympics, 15 Russians and 16 Belarusians were cleared to compete, with the IOC hiring an international firm to vet athletes. Perevezentsev noted:

“We are denying Russian athletes the opportunity to fulfill their potential.” - Oleksii Perevezentsev

The IOC acknowledged that information provided by Ukraine was more thorough than that from the specially hired company. In 2022, IOC President Thomas Bach visited Ukraine. Current IOC head Kirsty Coventry expressed hope to find time to visit Ukraine. The next IOC session, scheduled for June 22–25, may address issues related to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in international events.

Perevezentsev is also co-author of the book 'Soft Power of Sport,' published in 2024. Elections for the president of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine are set for 2025. The 2026 Olympics will be held in Milan, and the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. Notably, the first eSports Olympic Games in Riyadh were canceled, while the 2025 Youth Olympic Games are expected to take place in Dakar, Senegal.

The question of whether Russian and Belarusian athletes can return to international competition remains highly contentious, with many nations and sports federations opposing their reinstatement due to the aggression from those countries. This year, Ukraine is actively working to strengthen its position in global sports, including through participation in the Youth Olympic Games and support for young athletes. Key decisions at the upcoming IOC session could significantly shape the future of international sports amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.