Russia And International Olympic Committee Clash At UN, Before Member States Pass Olympic Truce For Paris Games

In a heated exchange at the United Nations, Russia clashed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) just before 118 member states voted on adopting a traditional truce around the 2024 Paris Summer Games.

Two years ago, Russia voted for a similar Olympic truce resolution, but breached it by invading Ukraine shortly after the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Since then, relations between Russia and the IOC president Thomas Bach, have remained strained, with the IOC initially excluding Russian athletes but later allowing some to compete as neutral individuals.

In the United Nations debate, Russian diplomat Maria Zabolotskaya criticised these conditions as "completely unacceptable," as reported by Business Standard.

Only Russia and its ally Syria abstained from the vote, while 118 member states, including Israel, Ukraine, and the United States, backed the resolution proposed by Olympic host, France.

The Olympic Truce will run from 19 July to 15 September, encompassing the period around the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

Zabolotskaya accused the IOC of "double standards" and "segregation based on nationality," stating that it violates basic human rights.

Bach responded by emphasising the relevance of the Olympic Truce in today's fragile world, advocating for unity even during times of conflict.

The United Nations General Assembly vice president, Mohan Pieris, highlighted the Olympics as a symbol of tolerance and peace, while Bach concluded his speech with a plea to "give peace a chance."