Lukashenka suggested athletes ‘don’t sweat’ because of IOC recommendations

During his address to the people and parliament, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko suggested that athletes “not swim” due to IOC recommendations. He believes there will be no less pride in athletes who do not compete under the country’s flag.
“If you don’t want us to act under our own flag, we will tolerate it. Although it is the last abomination: why are you under the flag, but not us? We will get out of this, we have to get out of this. Don’t worry,” Lukashenka said.
According to Lukashenka, the results of the athletes do not depend on whether they compete under the country’s flag or not.
“He’ll go home and unfurl that flag at the airport…he’ll say he was deprived of performing under that flag, but he’s a patriot…I’m starting from the personality of an athlete – it’s his life,” the president said.
Moreover, as the Belarusian head of state noted, all athletes oppose all wars, including those in Syria, Afghanistan, those waged by Western countries in different parts of the world.
“We will be for peace. We remember that they (the West – editor’s note) are pushing this war (in Ukraine – editor’s note), they started it… And who is for this war? So we will punish them – who constantly push this war today,” Lukashenko said.
He noted that the IOC was gradually withdrawing from its hardline positions. However, he considers it unacceptable to deprive athletes of sports and the means of subsistence with which they feed their families.
Previously, Wimbledon in the UK allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in tournaments, but without public funding and public statements about CBO support during the tournaments.Lukashenka’s post suggested that athletes “don’t worry” because of the IOC’s recommendations that first appeared on current articles.