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.
2月4日全美电视报道，在2月3日举行的亚凯迪亚市议会年度重组会议上，资深市议员郑博仁（Paul Cheng）正式宣誓就任副市长一职，这是他第二次担任亚凯迪亚市副市长一职。在就职发言中，特别强调了公共安全与城市财政健康的重要性，其长期致力于支持警消人员及退伍军人的贡献获得广泛认可。郑博仁还阐述了他的服务理念，强调了善意与团结的重要性，并明确指出了城市赖以维系的四大基石。 郑博仁在感言中首先分享了他对公职的核心理解：“在议会中，最重要的事情是保持善意。” 这句话奠定了他此次发言的基调。他进一步阐述了亚凯迪亚市成功与稳定的基础，认为城市建立在四大支柱之上：“第一是警消人员，第二是教育委员会，第三是市政员工，第四是全体居民。我作为市议员的工作，就是确保这个基础稳固不移。当我离任时，我本人会被遗忘。但我的职责是确保这四大支柱屹立不倒。” 这番言论凸显了他将制度与社区福祉置于个人政治遗产之上的服务观。 郑博仁长期以来一直是城市警消人员与退伍军人的积极倡导者。他认为，强大的公共安全体系是社区稳定的基石。多年来，他通过与市议会同事及市政员工的紧密合作，共同推动了对公共安全领域的持续投资与支持，这些努力不仅是其政策重点，也为城市的整体安全与稳定环境作出了贡献。 郑博仁与市议会及市政团队的合作，也体现在亚凯迪亚市卓越的财政健康状况上。在他参与治理的期间，城市展现了强大的财政管理能力。 根据独立审计机构刚刚完成的2024-25财年财务审查报告显示，亚凯迪亚市以460万美元的财政盈余结束了该财年，大幅超出了早先的预测。这一成果反映了审慎的规划、严格的支出管理以及社区持续的经济活力。 财政收入方面，销售税、财产税、公用事业税及酒店税表现稳健，超出预期，加之投资收入及补助资金的增加，共同推动了收入的增长。支出方面，部分资本项目的常规进度调整、供应链延迟以及低于预期的人员成本（同时未降低市政服务水平），实现了节余。 这一积极的财政成果使亚凯迪亚市能够继续投资于市政团队，维护关键基础设施，并为未来（包括应对长期养老金成本）进行负责任规划。郑博仁对此表示：“这一结果彰显了亚凯迪亚在履行财政责任的同时，有力支持我们的员工，并维护居民所期望的高生活质量。我感谢市政员工的辛勤工作，也感谢社区带来的经济活力，是这一切让这样的成果成为可能。” 展望未来，郑博仁在结束发言时表示：“亚凯迪亚市现在迎来新的市长领导，将为城市带来阳光。消极即是黑暗。而新的光芒将照亮黑暗，确保亚凯迪亚持续成为加州最优秀的城市。” 这番话与市长就职所代表的新开端相呼应，传递出对透明、积极治理的期待。 分析认为，郑博仁就任副市长，其倡导的公共安全优先、财政稳健与社区团结的理念，预计将继续引领亚凯迪亚市向前发展。城市强劲的财政状况，也为实现这些目标提供了坚实保障。 郑博仁律师出身，曾担任检察官，长期服务社区。此次宣誓就任副市长，标志着他在地方治理中承担更重要的领导角色。其发言中关于“善意”、“四大基石”及反对“恐惧政治”的论述，预计将成为其任期内的核心施政理念。社区各方期待在新的市议会领导下，亚凯迪亚能够继续维护其卓越的生活品质与和谐的社区环境。 郑博仁是亚凯迪亚市广为人知的代表人物之一。他不仅是成功的执业律师，更是长期深耕社区的公共服务者。凭借其法律专业背景与对市政事务的深刻理解，郑博仁始终致力于推动政府透明、财政稳健及社区安全，在居民中享有广泛声誉。
2月4日华盛顿报道，今天，美国众议院中国问题特别委员会在一份新闻稿中表示，美国众议院监督与政府改革委员会今天通过了一项旨在加强联邦政府防止中国和其他外国敌对势力渗透美国信息技术和通信系统的名为《联邦采购安全委员会改进法案》(FASCIA）的两党法案，由密歇根州共和党籍众议员、美国众议院中国问题特别委员会主席穆勒纳尔（John Moolenaar)、南卡罗来纳州共和党籍众议员蒂蒙斯（William Timmons）和弗吉尼亚州民主党籍众议员苏布拉马尼亚姆（Suhas Subramanyam）共同发起。 穆勒纳尔说：“我们绝不能允许中国公司参与联邦采购流程，因此我们正在采取行动阻止这种情况发生，我们需要安全可靠的供应链，使其免受外国敌对势力的利用，这不仅适用于美国工业，也同样适用于政府部门。这项立法将增强我们国家的实力，并得到了两党的大力支持。” 该立法将改革并现代化联邦采购委员会（FASC），将其并入总统行政办公室，扩大其权限，并提供专门的业务支持，以主动识别、调查和移除所有联邦机构中的高风险外国供应商和设备。 蒂蒙斯在上周该立法提出时说：“共产主义中国一直在寻找各种方法来利用我们联邦系统的漏洞，并对美国进行间谍活动，美国纳税人的钱绝不应该被用来购买可能危害国家安全的技术。这项法案赋予联邦政府必要的工具和权力，使其能够在威胁演变成危机之前，阻止危险的外国供应商，保障供应链安全，并保护敏感的政府网络。在保卫国家方面，我们必须采取积极主动而非被动应对的策略。” 苏布拉马尼亚姆上周表示：“保护联邦信息技术系统免受外国敌对势力的影响不应成为党派之争，这项法案确保我们不会将纳税人的钱浪费在与可能危害我们系统的外国敌对势力有关联的技术或供应商身上。这是保障采购安全和降低联邦机构风险的明智之举。”
2月3日华盛顿报道，美国总统特朗普今天敦促美国国会“将各州或地方的选举事务全国化”。特朗普总统昨天在白宫椭圆形办公室阐述了这一观点，认为拜登赢得2020年大选的部分州存在舞弊风险，并敦促共和党应该接管美国15个州的选举事务。 特朗普总统指出：“如果一个州无法组织选举，我认为我身后的那些人应该采取行动，仔细想想，各州在选举中是联邦政府的代理机构。我不明白为什么联邦政府不直接负责选举事务。” 特朗普总统强调说：“联邦政府不应该允许这种情况发生。联邦政府应该介入。” 特朗普总统指控底特律、费城和亚特兰大是最容易出现选举舞弊的地方。在2020年总统大选中，特朗普输掉了密歇根州、宾夕法尼亚州和佐治亚州，败给了民主党候选人拜登。 特朗普总统希望采取其他措施，例如《拯救选举法案》（SAVE Act），该法案要求选民出示公民身份证明才能投票。在他推动选举全国化之前，联邦调查局突袭了佐治亚州富尔顿县，查封了2020年大选的选票。 一些民主党人反对这种全国性接管选举的想法。美国参议院少数党领袖、纽约州民主党人舒默（Charles E. Schumer）指责特朗普总统的行为像独裁者。 舒默声称：“现在我们知道特朗普这么做的原因了：他正在失去美国人民的支持，而且他自己也知道这一点，所以，他不想让他们投票。他不想让他们掌握权力。”
2月3日加州安大略市报道，位于美国南加州的安大略国际机场 (ONT) 今天祝贺台湾航空公司中华航空（China Airlines）实现一项重要里程碑，自 2018 年开通安大略—台北航线以来，该航空公司迎来了第 100 万名由安大略国际机场起飞的乘客，该里程碑凸显中华航空在该机场发展为南加州国际门户机场中的关键角色。 第一百万名旅客程治恩于2月2日周一晚间出席了一场简短的欢迎仪式，这标志着该机场与中华航空长期合作关系中的又一重要里程碑，并凸显了该内陆帝国地区机场国际航线的蓬勃发展。 自成为该机场首家提供直飞跨太平洋航班的航空公司以来，中华航空一直是推动安大略国际机场成为南加州国际门户的核心力量，为旅客们提供前往台湾及亚洲其他地区的便捷航班。2025 年，中华航空经 ONT 运送旅客至台湾高达 19.5…
2月2日华盛顿报道，一名联邦法官今天阻止了特朗普政府国土安全部（DHS）取消参与“临时保护身份”（TPS）计划的海地人的合法保护，为35万名原定于2月3日失去遣返保护移民的截止日前，争取到了最后一刻的喘息机会。 美国地方法院法官雷耶斯（Ana Reyes）今天裁定，无限期暂停原定的终止海地“临时保护身份”计划，明确禁止联邦政府取消现有参与者的合法身份和工作许可，并禁止逮捕和驱逐他们。 雷耶斯在随附的裁决书中，抨击美国国土安全部部长诺姆（Kristi Noem）终止海地移民“临时保护身份”政策的决定。 雷耶斯称诺姆的决定“武断且反复无常”，违反了《行政程序法》，并指出该决定未能充分考虑危机重重的海地“存在巨大危险”的压倒性证据，海地目前仍然饱受政治不稳定、帮派暴力和普遍贫困的困扰。 雷耶斯还称，诺姆的决定“部分”源于“种族歧视”，并引用了诺姆和特朗普总统此前对海地和移民发表的贬低性言论。 雷耶斯写道：“诺姆有权根据第一修正案称移民为杀人犯、寄生虫、福利依赖者，以及任何她想用的不恰当称谓，然而，诺姆部长在实施临时保护身份计划时，必须遵守我们的宪法和《行政程序法》，忠实地将事实应用于法律。目前的记录显示，她尚未做到这一点。” 美国国土安全部发言人麦克劳克林（Tricia McLaughlin）在一份声明中暗示，特朗普政府将请求最高法院介入此案。麦克劳克林表示：“最高法院，我们来了，这是无法无天的激进行为，我们最终会获得胜利。海地的临时保护身份是在15年前地震后授予的，它从未被旨在成为事实上的大赦计划，但之前的几届政府几十年来一直都是这样使用的。” “临时保护身份”制度由美国国会于1990年设立。自那时以来，民主党和共和党政府都曾利用这项政策，为来自面临武装冲突、环境灾难或其他紧急情况而无法安全返回本国的外国人提供临时合法庇护。 特朗普政府强调，这些项目吸引非法移民，并且被民主党政府滥用和延长了太长时间，并已着手废除大多数“临时保护身份”项目，这使得数十万来自阿富汗、喀麦隆、埃塞俄比亚、洪都拉斯、缅甸、尼泊尔、尼加拉瓜、索马里、南苏丹、叙利亚和委内瑞拉的移民面临被驱逐出境的风险。