AMTV/LAUSANNE, March 27 – The 11th Olympic Summit that met on 9 December 2022, consisting of the leaders of all stakeholder groups of the Olympic Movement, had requested the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to explore a pathway for athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to return to international competitions as Individual Neutral Athletes. Following a four-month consultation period, the IOC Executive Board (EB) discussed this request today.
The EB reiterates that the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was not considered either in the consultations or in its deliberations today. The IOC expressly reserves the right to decide about their participation at the appropriate time, even if they would be considered to have qualified according to the qualification criteria set by their respective International Federations (IFs).
Following the request of the Olympic Summit, extensive consultations and discussions took place with all Olympic Movement stakeholders: the IOC Members, the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the IFs and the global network of athletes’ representatives. The IOC EB also issued a statement on 25 January 2023, entitled: Statement on solidarity with Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and Belarus, and the status of athletes from these countries.
During these consultations, all Olympic Movement stakeholders once again reiterated their support for the IOC’s call for peace. The Olympic Movement continues to make its contributions to any peace-building efforts. It feels deeply for the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Olympic community, whose pain and suffering are beyond imagination.
It was also emphasised that the Olympic Games cannot prevent wars and conflicts. Nor can they address all the political and social challenges in our world. This is the realm of politics. But the Olympic Games can set an example for a world where everyone respects the same rules and one another. They can inspire us to solve problems by building bridges, leading to better understanding among people. They can open the door to dialogue and peace-building in ways that exclusion and division do not.
Solidarity with Ukrainian athletes reaffirmed
The IOC EB today reaffirms the steadfast commitment of the entire Olympic Movement to help Ukrainian athletes in every way possible, in order to see a strong team from the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. In order to achieve this, the IOC has tripled its Solidarity Fund for the NOC of Ukraine to USD 7.5 million.
At least 3,000 Ukrainian athletes and other members of the Olympic community of Ukraine have benefitted from the IOC Solidarity Fund through the NOC of Ukraine over the past 12 months, and from direct assistance from other Olympic Movement stakeholders, including the IFs and the NOCs. These efforts have taken the form of financial and logistical support, in order to ensure that Ukrainian athletes can continue to train and take part in competitions by providing travel support, training facilities, accommodation, equipment and uniforms, amongst other items.
Sanctions against the Russian and Belarusian governments must remain in place
The IOC EB reiterates today its condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is a blatant violation of the Olympic Truce that was in effect at the time, and of the Olympic Charter. For this reason, the IOC has already sanctioned the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, who are solely responsible for this war, in an unprecedented way. In particular, the IOC has recommended that:
no international sports events be organised in Russia and Belarus;
no flag, anthems or other national symbols whatsoever should be displayed at any international sports events; and
no government or state officials should be accredited for or invited to any international sports events.
These sanctions were put in place in February 2022 and were then reinforced and confirmed by the Olympic Summit on 9 December 2022. The IOC EB today underlines that they remain firmly in place.
Political interference in sport
In the most recent series of consultations, the Olympic Movement stakeholders reiterated their firm rejection of any political interference in the autonomous authority of sports organisations to decide on participation in their competitions. This clear and strong reaction to political interference was considered necessary, because if governments took over the decisions regarding which athletes can take part in which competitions, it would be the end of world sport as we know it today.
Sports organisations must have the sole responsibility to decide which athletes can take part in international competitions based on their sporting merits and not on political grounds or because of their passports.
In all the deliberations, particular attention was paid to the views from the Ukrainian sports community. The 70 other ongoing armed conflicts and wars around the world (source: Crisis Group, CrisisWatch Database) were also considered, including the situations in the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and the southern Caucasus. It was noted that NOCs in the regions impacted by these armed conflicts and wars are following the principles of the Olympic Charter. They are not requesting the exclusion of athletes from the other party in the armed conflict or war, and they are allowing their athletes to compete in international sporting competitions without restrictions.
Human rights considerations
The Olympic Movement stakeholders also saw a need to address the protective measures for athletes and officials with a Russian or Belarusian passport that are currently in place, particularly in the context of the adoption of the “Sport as an enabler of sustainable development” resolution (A/77L.28) by the United Nations General Assembly on 1 December 2022. This resolution recognises that “major international sports events should be organised in the spirit of peace, mutual understanding and international cooperation, friendship and tolerance, and without discrimination of any kind, and that the unifying and conciliative nature of such events should be respected”. It also explicitly acknowledges: “the Olympic Charter, and that any form of discrimination is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement”. It was passed by consensus by all UN Member States, including the governments of Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.
More recently, judgments by the Court of Justice of the European Union further confirmed that sanctions cannot solely be based on a person holding a passport from a particular nation, nor can they be applied simply on the basis of affiliation.
In addition, the urgent request expressed by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance of the United Nations Human Rights Council was also taken into account.
They said on 1 February 2023: “UN experts today commended the International Olympic Committee for considering allowing individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports competitions as neutral athletes. We urge the IOC to adopt a decision in that direction, and to go further, ensuring the non-discrimination of any athlete on the basis of their nationality.”
The Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights also joined the meeting of the IOC Advisory Committee on Human Rights on 16 and 17 March 2023 and spoke with the athletes’ representatives in their call on 24 March 2023. She also addressed the IOC Members, NOCs and IFs in their consultation calls. In her remarks she considered the legal arguments provided by the NOCs of Ukraine and Germany. Please find here the transcript of the introduction to her remarks.
The IOC has to rely on the authority of the UN Special Rapporteur, who is appointed by the UN “to raise awareness… draw the attention of governments and others on alleged human rights violations… ask that the violations are prevented, stopped, investigated, or that remedial action is taken.” This is exactly what the Special Rapporteur has done.
International sports competitions
During the consultations with the Olympic Movement stakeholders, which extended over a period of four months, the vast majority of the stakeholders were clear that they want a pathway to be opened for the competitions under their sole authority. They requested from the IOC recommendations in order to harmonise their approach, in the event that they decide to admit athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport to their competitions. The IOC strongly recommends taking such a decision only with the provision that it can be revoked at the discretion of the IF concerned.
Following this request, the IOC EB today issues to IFs and international sports event organisers the following recommendations:
Athletes with a Russian or a Belarusian passport must compete only as Individual Neutral Athletes.
Teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport cannot be considered.
Athletes who actively support the war cannot compete. Support personnel who actively support the war cannot be entered.
Athletes who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies cannot compete. Support personnel who are contracted to the Russian or Belarusian military or national security agencies cannot be entered.
Any such Individual Neutral Athlete, like all the other participating athletes, must meet all anti-doping requirements applicable to them and particularly those set out in the anti-doping rules of the IFs.
The sanctions against those responsible for the war, the Russian and Belarusian states and governments, must remain in place:
No international sports events organised or supported by an IF or NOC in Russia or Belarus.
No flag, anthem, colours or any other identifications whatsoever of these countries displayed at any sports event or meeting, including the entire venue.
No Russian and Belarusian government or state official can be invited to or accredited for any international sports event or meeting.
No decision on Paris 2024 or Milano Cortina 2026 participation
The IOC EB confirmed that these recommendations do not concern the participation of athletes and their support personnel with a Russian or Belarusian passport at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 or the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The IOC will take this decision at the appropriate time, at its full discretion, and without being bound by the results of previous Olympic qualification competitions.
Throughout the application of the above-mentioned exemptions by the IFs, the IOC will closely monitor the full implementation of these recommendations by all parties concerned. The results of this monitoring procedure will be an important factor in the decision by the IOC concerning the participation of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
3月22日德黑兰报道，据报道，在美国和以色列先发制人对伊朗实施“史诗怒火行动”大规模袭击后，美伊战争局势不断升级，伊朗政权现开始向一些通过霍尔木兹海峡的油轮收取 200 万美元通行费，旨在进一步控制该全球航运咽喉要道。 伊朗常驻国际海事组织（IMO）代表穆萨维（Ali Mousavi）今天告诉梅尔通讯社（MNA)，霍尔木兹海峡“对所有人开放”，但伊朗的对手除外。与此同时，伊朗总统佩泽什基安（Masoud Pezeshkian）也阐述了伊朗在霍尔木兹海峡问题上的政策。 穆萨维强调说：“霍尔木兹海峡对所有人开放，但侵犯我们领土的人除外。” 据伊朗国际电视台报道，伊朗议员博鲁杰尔迪（ Alaeddin Boroujerd）告诉伊朗国家广播电视台（IRIB)，巨额通行费标志着伊朗开始采取新的水道管控方式，这项征税反映了海峡中一个新的“主权政权”。 博鲁杰尔迪在伊朗媒体援引的一档电视节目中表示：“向部分过境船只收取200万美元的过境费，体现了伊朗的实力。” 该媒体还报道称，这位伊朗议会国家安全委员会成员表示，这项措施已经实施，反映了他所说的数十年来在海峡地区建立的新的“主权体制”。 博鲁杰尔迪指出：“战争是有代价的，所以我们自然必须这样做，向途经霍尔木兹海峡的船只收取过境费。” 博鲁杰尔迪发表上述言论之前，美国总统特朗普3月21日曾警告伊朗称，如果霍尔木兹海峡在48小时内不重新开放，美国可能会对伊朗的电力基础设施发动袭击。 特朗普总统在社交媒体平台“真实社交”上发帖说：“如果伊朗不立即在48小时内完全开放霍尔木兹海峡，且不施加任何威胁，美国将立即打击并摧毁其所有发电厂，首先摧毁最大的那座！”…
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3月22日特拉维夫报道，伊朗发动的导弹袭击今天命中了以色列主要核研究中心附近的两个社区，导致该国南部地区超过100人受伤。这是自三周前美国和以色列对伊朗先发制人发动“史诗怒火行动”以来，以色列的核研究中心首次成为伊朗打击目标。 此外，伊朗今天对以色列中部地区，包括特拉维夫和耶路撒冷，发动了连续的导弹和集束炸弹袭击。 在此次伊朗对以色列的袭击发生前数小时，伊朗的纳坦兹（Natanz）核浓缩设施刚遭到空袭；以色列军方至今仍未承认对该次空袭负责。 以色列军方承认，他们未能成功拦截伊朗对迪莫纳（Dimona）和阿拉德（Arad）两市的导弹袭击。这两座城市是以色列内盖夫（Negev）沙漠腹地附近最大的城市。 以色列总理内塔尼亚胡（Benjamin Netanyahu）今天声称，这两座城市之所以无人遇难，完全是“出于运气”。 内塔尼亚胡在阿拉德市的袭击现场表示：“如果你想要证明伊朗正危及整个世界的证据，过去48小时里发生的一切就是最好的证明，在过去48小时里，伊朗将袭击目标对准了平民区。他们正将此作为一种大规模杀伤性武器来使用。幸运的是，无人遇难；但这完全是出于运气，而非他们的本意。他们的本意就是谋杀平民。” 内塔尼亚胡呼吁世界各国领导人加入以色列和美国的行列，共同对抗伊朗；他表示，“已看到其中一些国家开始朝这一方向迈进，但仍需付出更多努力。”他声称，以色列和美国正“以强大武力”对伊朗予以回击，但“绝不针对平民”。 以色列紧急救援机构“大卫之星”（MDA）于今天清晨通报称，在伊朗针对以色列阿拉德（Arad）的袭击中，至少有64人受伤。该机构的一位发言人表示，伤者中已有7人因伤势严重被送医救治，另有15人伤势中等，42人伤势轻微。 该机构表示，“大卫之星”救援队正继续在废墟中搜寻更多伤亡人员。 据“大卫之星”救援队此前通报，数小时前，伊朗对附近的另一座城市迪莫纳镇（Dimona）发动了一次袭击，造成至少40人受伤。 在伊朗这2起袭击发生后，以色列总理内塔尼亚胡表示，以色列军队将继续在中东地区推进其军事行动。 内塔尼亚胡在社交媒体上发布的一份声明中表示：“对于这场关乎我们未来的战役而言，这是一个极其艰难的夜晚。”他补充道，他已与此次遇袭的两座城镇之一，阿拉德镇（Arad）的市长通了话，并转达了“我们对伤者平安的祈愿”。 内塔尼亚胡声称：“我们决心在所有战线上继续打击我们的敌人。” 以色列国防军发言人肖什（Nadav…
3月21日孟菲斯报道，美国物流巨头联邦快递（FedEX）正在推行一项覆盖全公司近50万名员工的AI 素养提升计划，旨在提高该公司员工的知识水平、工作效率，并为他们晋升做好准备。根据联邦快递最新的年度报告，该公司在全球拥有44万名员工。 联邦快递执行副总裁兼首席数据和信息官塔尔瓦尔（Vishal Talwar）说：“我们越是投资于人才的学习发展，让他们在学习过程中处于领先地位，他们就越受益，我们也会受益，整个行业也会受益。”他同时也是该公司数据物流解决方案大数据平台Dataworks的负责人。 总部设于美国田纳西州孟菲斯的联邦快递公司的这项企业级教育计划，于去年12月初与科技咨询公司埃森哲 (Accenture) 合作启动，其目标还在于激发各级员工的创新精神。 联邦快递及其在航运领域的竞争对手面临着诸多业务限制，从关税和其他政策变化到成本削减措施，这些都导致了联邦快递近期从美国堪萨斯州到法国等地关闭工厂和裁员。 联邦快递的管理层热衷于适应这个以新兴技术为核心的新世界，其近期的收益，包括本周发布的最新财报，都获得了投资者的认可，过去一年来，其股价上涨了近 50%。 联邦快递持续在公司各个层面引入新的人工智能功能，例如2月初宣布的面向托运人的先进数字化追踪和退货功能。联邦快递的人工智能学习计划包括为员工提供个性化、基于角色的培训，旨在随着技术的进步而不断发展。 塔尔瓦尔表示：“这是一个动态的课程体系，每月、每季度都会更新，这是我们与埃森哲合作的成果，这是我们要求的关键要素之一，以确保我们设计的课程能够与时俱进。” 这项定制化培训通过埃森哲公司的LearnVantage平台运行，采用互动式实时培训课程，员工可以在工作时间、下班时间或任何其他时间参加。塔尔瓦尔表示，公司会保持灵活，不断探索最适合员工的培训方式。 除了个人课程外，联邦快递公司还鼓励员工创建并参与塔尔瓦尔所说的“实践社区”。例如，公司的数据科学家们最近就成立了自己的数据科学实践社区，共同探讨各种应用案例。业内常见的还有黑客马拉松，公司会组织活动，让团队成员共同协作，探索新的技术发展方向和应用案例。 但联邦快递的人工智能素养提升计划却截然不同，它获得了高管层的全力支持。每位高管都抽出两天时间前往硅谷，进行了一场类似“快速约会”的活动，确保找到最合适的合作伙伴。…
3月21日华盛顿报道，美国联邦调查局（FBI）历史上任期第二长的局长穆勒（Robert Mueller）今天去世，享年81岁。他曾担任特别检察官，负责监督调查俄罗斯干预2016年美国大选案。 在穆勒去世的消息传出后，特朗普总统在社交媒体平台“真实社交”上发帖称：“穆勒刚刚去世。太好了，我很高兴他死了。他再也不能伤害无辜的人了！” 穆勒生前所在的威尔默海尔（WilmerHale）律师事务所的一位发言人在一份声明中说：“威尔默海尔律师事务所对我们的朋友和前合伙人穆勒的去世深感悲痛。穆勒是一位杰出的领导者和公职人员，也是一位品格高尚的人。” 该声明还说：“他为国家做出的贡献，包括作为一名功勋卓著的海军陆战队军官、联邦调查局局长以及在司法部任职，都堪称典范，令人敬佩。我们为曾与他共事而深感自豪。在这个悲痛的时刻，我们与穆勒的家人和挚爱之人同在。” 穆勒曾在小布什和奥巴马两位前总统任期内担任美国联邦调查局局长。他于2001年由小布什总统首次提名担任此职，并成为历史上任期第二长的联邦调查局局长。穆勒最初以98比0的参议院投票结果获得确认，并在2001年9月11日恐怖袭击事件发生前几天正式上任。 在2014年的一次演讲中，穆勒回忆起袭击发生后几天，小布什总统向他提出的主要问题：“联邦调查局正在采取哪些措施来防止下一次恐怖袭击？” 穆勒回忆说，当时他没有答案，但在接下来的几年里，他调整了联邦调查局的任务，最终找到了答案。穆勒表示：“我们的衡量标准不能再是逮捕人数、起诉人数和定罪人数了，关键在于回答这个问题。” 穆勒在奥巴马政府时期继续担任联邦调查局局长，奥巴马甚至要求穆勒在联邦调查局局长传统的十年任期结束后继续留任。他于2013年卸任。 2017年，奥巴马政府副司法部长罗森斯坦任命他为特别检察官，负责调查俄罗斯干预2016年总统选举结果的企图以及与特朗普竞选团队“通俄门”。 穆勒发布了一份详细阐述其调查结果的报告后，成为特朗普总统的攻击目标。穆勒的该份报告声称，俄罗斯以全面且系统的方式干预了2016年美国大选，包括努力提升特朗普的竞选支持率并损害其民主党对手希拉里的竞选活动。但报告并未证实特朗普竞选团队与俄罗斯之间存在犯罪阴谋。 该报告还详细描述了特朗普总统得知特别检察官被任命调查其竞选活动及其与俄罗斯的潜在联系时所表现出的沮丧之情。该报告称，他称之为“我经历过的最糟糕的事情”。 2019年，在报告发布后，特朗普总统指责穆勒是“真正的反特朗普人士”。 2025年，在特朗普总统第二个任期伊始，他继续抨击穆勒。当时，他签署了一项行政命令，切断了穆勒所在的威尔默海尔律师事务所与联邦政府之间的联系。 当时，特朗普总统称威尔默海尔律师事务所“回报”了穆勒，并指责他“滥用检察官权力颠覆民主进程，歪曲司法”。…
3月21日华盛顿报道，美国总统特朗普今晚在社交媒体平台“真实社交” 上发帖威胁伊朗时声称，如果霍尔木兹海峡48小时内不开放，美国将以伊朗的发电厂为目标。 特朗普总统在帖子中写道：“如果伊朗不从现在起48小时内完全开放霍尔木兹海峡，且不施加任何威胁，美国将打击并摧毁其各个发电厂，首先从最大的发电厂开始！” 特朗普总统今天发表这番言论之际，美伊战争已进入第四周。伊朗袭击了位于印度洋的英美联合基地，以及一处与以色列有关联的核设施。而伊朗的主要核浓缩设施纳坦兹也再次遭到袭击，卫星图像显示，纳坦兹核设施在战争爆发的第一周就曾遭到袭击，多栋建筑受损。该设施在2025年6月的12天战争中也曾是美国和以色列的袭击目标。 特朗普政府3月20日宣布解除对伊朗的部分石油制裁，允许出售伊朗生产的石油，旨在为遏制能源价格飞涨而采取的最新举措。 在美国与伊朗的战争期间，零售汽油价格每加仑上涨了93美分，而美国原油价格自年初以来已上涨超过70%。本月初，特朗普政府还废除了《琼斯法案》(Jones Act)，允许取消部分石油运输管制规定。此举也暂时解除了对俄罗斯石油的部分制裁。 特朗普总统一再向美国盟友施压，要求其协助清理霍尔木兹海峡。他3月20日称，中国、日本和北约应该介入。 特朗普总统表示：“你知道，美国不用海峡，我们不需要它，欧洲需要它，韩国、日本、中国，还有很多其他国家，所以他们必须参与进来。” 全球约20%的石油经由伊朗控制的霍尔木兹海峡运输，这是一条至关重要的世界贸易通道。伊朗对该地区船只的袭击导致该海域海上交通几乎完全中断，而全球油价也随之飙升。 此外，伊朗司法部门的官方通讯社米赞（Mizan）确认，位于伊朗德黑兰东南约135英里处的纳坦兹核设施遭到袭击，没有发生泄漏。 联合国核监督机构表示，伊朗估计拥有的970磅浓缩铀大部分位于其他地方，在其伊斯法罕设施的废墟下，纳坦兹只有少量。国际原子能机构表示，已获悉此次袭击，并正在调查中。 以色列军方声称，“并不知晓”对伊朗纳坦兹核设施发动的袭击。俄罗斯外交部发言人扎哈罗娃（Maria Zakharova）表示，此类袭击“对整个中东地区构成灾难性后果的真正风险”。 今天晚些时候，伊朗声称其袭击目标是以色列主要核研究中心所在地迪莫纳，旨在摧毁以色列核计划。在以色列主要核研究中心所在地迪莫纳，救援人员救治了数名被弹片击伤的人员。以色列被认为是中东地区唯一拥有核武器的国家，但其领导人拒绝证实或否认核武器的存在。…