Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on Monday called the International Olympic Committee a "promoter of war" after the sports body said it was exploring ways for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete.
"(The) IOC is a promoter of war, murder and destruction," Podolyak said on Twitter. "The IOC watches with pleasure Russia destroying Ukraine and then offers Russia a platform to promote genocide and encourages their further killings."
The IOC previously asked sporting federations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year but said last week, "no athlete should be prevented from competing just because of their passport."
In response to the IOC's move, Ukraine hinted at boycotting the 2024 Paris Olympics if those athletes are allowed to compete.
"Obviously, Russian money that buys Olympic hypocrisy doesn't have a smell of Ukrainian blood. Right, Mr. Bach?" Podolyak said, referring to IOC President Thomas Bach.
#IOC is a promoter of war, murder & destruction. The IOC watches with pleasure RF destroying 🇺🇦 & then offers 🇷🇺 a platform to promote genocide & encourages their further killings.
— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) January 30, 2023
Obviously ru-money that buys Olympic hypocrisy doesn’t have a smell of 🇺🇦 blood. Right, Mr. #Bach?
