"Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has not ended, and sport must not become a tool used to normalize aggression or create the impression that everything has returned to normal. The Olympic movement must stand for values, not convenient compromises,” emphasized Gerd Kanter, Acting President of the Estonian Olympic Committee and Olympic champion.
“However, we welcome today’s IOC decision not to restore the rights of Russian athletes, coaches, and officials, primarily because Russia continues to systematically violate the Olympic Charter,” he added.
The use of national symbols at international sporting events is a direct “soft power” instrument of aggressor states, aimed at normalizing unlawful actions and dividing the international sports community.
The EOK stresses that Estonia’s sporting environment cannot be separated from geopolitical realities, and it is our responsibility to protect Estonian athletes from situations where they may be used for the propaganda purposes of aggressor states. The EOK does not accept the normalization of aggressor states through flags, anthems, and symbols; however, if Estonian athletes must compete against Russian or Belarusian athletes in competitions, there is no reason to withdraw.
The Estonian Olympic Committee is in close communication with the Olympic committees of the other Baltic states, and together they hope that the Olympic movement will remain committed to its core values.