Restrictions may directly affect individuals who have violated the rights of athletes or supported military aggression against Ukraine. All other athletes who adhere to the principles of neutrality, as approved by the IOC, have the full right to participate. Moreover, such participation aligns with our national interests.

Why does it align? There is a concept called 'sports sovereignty.' This is the ability of nations to be equally represented at international sporting events. It includes our own sports diplomacy and the demonstration of the attributes of national independence. The participation of Belarusians in the Olympics and any other international sporting event is an opportunity to emphasize that we are an independent nation and that Belarus as a state has not lost its sovereignty. In the current complex geopolitical circumstances, this is very important.

Our sports are now in a critical state. The lack of full-fledged international competitive practice is severely impacting the entire sports system. Naturally, local competitions cannot fully replace international events.
If this isolation continues for several more years, Belarus will fall far behind in global sports, and returning to the previous level will require serious efforts from specialists and significant expenses from Belarusian taxpayers.