Ukrainians in France gearing up to boycott Russian participation in the Olympics

The Ukrainian community in France is preparing to boycott the participation of “neutral” Russian and Belarusian athletes at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, revealed Volodymyr Kogutyak, UWC Vice President for Western Europe.

“In Paris, the French and Ukrainians are preparing for the Olympic Games hand in hand. Ukrainians in Paris plan meetings with our Ukrainian athletes and cheering for them, but at the same time, together with the Mayor of Paris, we are preparing for protests against the arrival of Russian and Belarusian athletes, under whatever flag they may be,” Kogutyak said.

The Paris authorities have repeatedly opposed Russian athletes at the 2024 Olympics. In March, the city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, stated, “I prefer that they don’t come. We cannot act as if (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine) did not exist. We could not act as if (Vladimir) Putin was not a dictator who today threatens the whole of Europe.“

Kogutyak mentioned that the Ukrainian community is evaluating various strategies to remind the world about the actions of Russians and Belarusians. He noted that the Olympic Games present an excellent opportunity for this.

“The number of people in Paris will double during the Olympics, as about 10 million tourists are expected. For our community, this will be another chance to hold many events in public places, reminding everyone once again that the Olympics in Paris are taking place under peaceful skies only because Ukraine is defending them,” concluded the UWC Vice President.