Protest March in Lausanne Regarding the Exclusion of Russian and Belarusian Athletes

A group of pro-Ukrainian demonstrators have marched to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne urging it to reconsider its stance on Russia and Belarus.

The protest organised by Swiss-based non-profit organisations and volunteers of various nationalities began at the Olympic Museum, with participants making the 3.5-kilometre journey to Olympic House.

Demonstrators expressed their opposition to Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in international sport, including next year's Olympic Games in Paris, under any banner, and urged IOC sponsors to use their position to apply pressure on the organisation.

Chants including "Olympic Games without Russia" were made en route.

When they reached Olympic House, protestors drew attention to 27 cities in Ukraine where damage has been inflicted on athletes and sports facilities during the war with Russia.

The Geneva Branch of the Ukrainian Society in Switzerland Free Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Athletes, Workers in the Fields of Physical Culture and Sports, Youth Policy, and National-Patriotic Education, Association D Help Ua Ukraine Reborn and Ukrainian Women in Switzerland all supported the protest.

All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Athletes representatives David Zakharyan and Sergei Zhuž have additionally delivered a petition which they said had more than 290,000 signatures urging the IOC to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing at Paris 2024.

The IOC acknowledged the protestors concerns, and said it had welcomed organisers to its headquarters earlier in the week.

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