By Mitch Phillips
(Reuters) – World Athletics head Sebastian Coe has met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kiev, where the head of state thanked the double Olympic champion for his sport’s support of his country and Coe promised to continue to provide it.
They met on Friday ahead of Coe attending the Ukraine athletics championships in Lviv and discussed continuing problems in the country as it battles the invasion that has led to Russian athletes being banned from all track & field events.
WA said in a statement on Monday that Coe “underscored World Athletics’ unwavering support for the people and athletes of Ukraine as they defend themselves against ongoing Russian aggression” and that he committed to continue financially supporting Ukrainian athletes through the Ukraine Fund.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has opened the door for Russian and Belarusian sportsmen and women to compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals without flags, emblems or anthems, but WA has stood firm in a blanket ban.
Briton Coe had previously said that Russia would not be allowed to take part in any world athletics events while their its troops are still in Ukraine.
“The death and destruction we have seen in Ukraine over the past year, including the deaths of some 185 athletes, have only hardened my resolve on this matter,” he said in 2022.
“The integrity of our major international competitions has already been substantially damaged by the actions of the Russian and Belarusian governments, through the hardship inflicted on Ukrainian athletes and the destruction of Ukraine’s sports systems.”
Following the establishment of a WA working group which is monitoring the situation, however, Coe’s stance softened and last December he said it would advise the sport’s policy-making Council on what circumstances might need to exist for any exclusion to be lifted.
“The world changes every five minutes, the situation could change,” Coe said.
Zelenskiy, however, remained focused on Coe’s initial stance.
“Thank you for your strong steps and decisions,” WA quoted Zelenskiy as saying on Monday. “Russia needs to feel that its terrorist war will cause its athletes to be treated accordingly and that the price for this war is very high.”
Coe condemned the loss of Ukraine’s sports infrastructure, which WA said has seen more than 500 sports facilities been damaged or destroyed, with more than 400 athletes killed during the war.
Both parties discussed exploring other initiatives and further support for Ukrainian athletes, including the creation of a programme focused on supporting 18-22-year-olds and their coaches, so they can continue to compete in athletics at international level.
Coe also invited Zelenskiy to attend athletics at the Paris Olympics later this month as his personal guest.
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Ed Osmond)
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