MINSK, 18 May (BelTA) – The Belarusian National Fencing Federation sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach asking to reconsider the decision of the International Fencing Federation about the admission of Belarusian athletes to the competitions under the aegis of the association, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Fencing Federation.
“On behalf of the Belarusian Fencing Federation we would like to announce that the decisions of the International Fencing Federation are unacceptable. The commission for determining neutral athletes allowed to participate in FIE competitions sent the final lists of athletes and coaches on 16 May. Of the 103 people on the list submitted by the federation, only 48 were approved. Even children born in 2010 and students in high school were excluded from the list,” the letter says.
The organization disagrees with the commission’s decision. “Such decisions violate social human rights because children, due to their age, cannot be involved in military or national security organizations. We declare that the commission has violated the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee. The Belarusian Fencing Federation demands to revise the list of allowed athletes,” the letter reads.
