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.
5月7日北京报道，中国已下令企业无视美国针对伊朗石油的制裁，不仅特朗普总统访华前夕中美关系面临新挑战，而且美国还面临对打击伊朗行动执行能力的直接考验。 上周末，中国商务部5月2日发布了一项新指令，援引了2021年出台的“阻断法”，禁止企业遵守被认定为非法的外国制裁措施。该指令适用于数家被美国指控采购伊朗原油的中国炼油企业，其中包括被称为“茶壶炼厂”的主要独立炼油商。 中国商务部新闻发言人5月2日就阻断美国对5家中国企业实施涉伊朗石油制裁措施时表示，2025年以来，美国根据其制裁其他国家的行政令，以参与伊朗石油交易为由，将恒力石化（大连）炼化有限公司、山东寿光鲁清石化有限公司、山东金诚石化集团有限公司、河北鑫海化工集团有限公司、山东胜星化工有限公司等中国企业列入“特别指定国民清单”（SDN清单）、实施冻结资产和禁止交易等制裁措施，不当禁止或限制中国企业与第三国（地区）及其公民、法人或其他组织开展正常的经贸及相关活动，违反国际法和国际关系基本准则。 中国商务部强调，为维护国家主权、安全、发展利益，保护中国公民、法人或其他组织的合法权益，根据《阻断外国法律与措施不当域外适用办法》和有关工作机制评估结果，商务部发布禁令，规定不得承认、不得执行、不得遵守美国对上述5家中国企业的制裁措施。 中国商务部发言人指出，中国政府一贯反对缺乏联合国授权和国际法依据的单边制裁。此次发布禁令，是依法实施《阻断外国法律与措施不当域外适用办法》的具体行动，不影响中方承担和履行国际义务，也不影响中国依法保护外商投资企业的合法权益。商务部将继续密切跟踪有关国家法律与措施不当域外适用的情况，如存在《阻断外国法律与措施不当域外适用办法》规定的情形，将依法开展相关工作。 中国正式指示企业不得遵守美国制裁措施，这一决定给全球企业增添了新的风险层面。根据相关“阻断法规”，若银行、保险公司或航运企业为配合美国制裁而切断业务往来，中国企业可向国内法院提起诉讼，要求其赔偿损失。 分析人士指出，此举可能令跨国企业陷入两难境地：它们必须在维持中国市场准入与面临被排除在美国金融体系之外的风险之间进行权衡。 这场僵局凸显了美国面临的一项更广泛的挑战：尽管制裁依然是美国外交政策的核心工具，但若要针对中国这样的主要经济体实施制裁，尤其是当相关交易可在美元体系之外进行时，其难度将大得多。 在此之际，正值特朗普政府加大对伊朗的制裁攻势，以及即将启程的中国之行，美国不仅将矛头指向中国的炼油企业，还警告各金融机构，若为伊朗与中国之间的石油交易提供便利，将面临处罚。 美国财政部长贝森特（Scott Bessent）指责北京通过购买石油，实际上资助了伊朗的军事活动。贝森特强调，正是中国的需求维系着伊朗的经济，“中国，让我们看看他们能否挺身而出，运用外交手段促使伊朗方面重新开启海峡，伊朗是全球最大的国家级恐怖主义资助国……而中国购买了其90%的能源，因此，中国实际上是在资助这个最大的国家级恐怖主义资助国。” 特朗普总统已经推迟了原定的与习近平会晤时间，伊朗战争令美国得以借机施压中国石油供应。预计这一议题将成为特朗普总统与中国领导人习近平即将举行的会晤中的一个主要争议焦点。目前复杂多变的国际局势和紧张的中美关系，恐怕对特朗普总统于5月中旬访华存在突然生变的可能。 与此同时，中伊外交进程正在加速推进。伊朗副外长阿拉格奇（Abbas Araghchi）于5月6日抵达北京，与中国外长王毅举行会谈；此举突显出中国作为伊朗主要石油买家及关键外交对话方的地位正日益提升。 海事情报公司…
5月7日伦敦报道，英国能源巨头壳牌公司（Shell）今天公布了超预期的今年第一季度利润，这主要得益于伊朗战争导致能源价格飙升。 根据伦敦证券交易所集团（LSEG）汇编的市场共识数据，这家英国能源巨头在今年前三个月录得69.2亿美元的调整后收益，超出了分析师此前预期的61亿美元。而根据壳牌公司自身提供的另一份分析师预测数据，其预期的第一季度利润为63.6亿美元。 相比之下，壳牌公司在一年前的同期录得55.8亿美元的调整后收益，而在2025年第四季度则录得32.6亿美元。 壳牌公司首席执行官萨万（Wael Sawan）在一份声明中表示：“尽管本季度全球能源市场遭遇了前所未有的剧烈动荡，但凭借我们对运营绩效的持续不懈关注，壳牌依然交出了一份强劲的业绩答卷。” 此外，壳牌公司下调了其季度股票回购的规模，从35亿美元降至30亿美元；与此同时，该公司宣布将股息上调5%，达到每股0.3906美元。 截至今年第一季度末，壳牌公司的净债务达到526亿美元，高于去年年底的457亿美元。 上个月，壳牌宣布已同意收购加拿大能源公司ARC。这笔含净债务及租赁负债，旨在提升产量的交易总价值高达164亿美元。 壳牌首席执行官萨万对该收购案给予了高度评价。该加拿大公司专注于加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省和艾伯塔省境内的蒙特尼页岩盆地。萨万称该公司为一家“高质量、低成本且碳强度处于行业前四分之一水平的低碳生产商”，并指出此次收购，将为壳牌公司未来数十年的资源基础提供有力支撑。 此次壳牌公司发布财报之际，各大能源巨头的股价正经历显著提振，自2月28日由美国和以色列主导的先发制人的对伊朗战争爆发以来，全球化石燃料价格便一路飙升。 具有战略重要性的霍尔木兹海峡持续遭受美伊战争的严重干扰，国际能源署（IEA）对此形容称，这已构成了“历史上最大的能源安全威胁”。 自伊朗战争爆发以来，油价已累计上涨约40%；尽管如此，受冲突有望结束的乐观情绪提振，布伦特原油期货和美国西德克萨斯中质原油（WTI）期货在上一交易日均出现大幅下跌。
5月7日东京报道，日本股市今天上涨超过5%，基准指数日经225指数（Nikkei 225）首次突破6.2万点大关。尽管中东局势再度紧张，但亚太地区市场整体仍呈现强劲反弹。此次区域性市场的普遍上扬，发生在美国总统特朗普发出警告之后。 日经225指数上涨5%，其中基础材料、科技和金融板块的个股领涨。作为该指数的权重股，软银集团（Softbank）的股价飙升超过13%。 日本电子与陶瓷产品供应商伊比登株式会社（Ibiden）表现最为亮眼，股价攀升17%；而制造及金属企业三井金属（Mitsui Kinzoku）也上涨了16%。此外，瑞萨电子（Renesas Electronics）上涨13%，化工及材料公司东曹株式会社（Tosoh Corporation）更是飙升了12%。 东证指数（Topix）也上涨了2.37%。在澳大利亚，标普/澳交所200指数（S&P/ASX 200）上涨了0.9%。 韩国股市方面，综合指数（Kospi）回吐此前涨幅，下跌0.68%；小盘股指数KOSDAQ也下滑了0.56%。香港恒生指数大涨1.47%，而中国内地的沪深300指数则小幅上扬0.38%。 特朗普总统此前曾表示，若伊朗未能同意达成和平协议，将遭到“更高烈度”的轰炸打击。 特朗普总统发出上述最新威胁之际，正有相关报道指出，美国与伊朗似乎正接近达成一项结束战争的协议。 特朗普总统在社交媒体平台“真实社交”上发帖表示，若伊朗“同意兑现此前已达成一致的承诺——尽管这或许是一个过于乐观的假设”，那么美军代号为“史诗之怒行动”（Operation Epic Fury）的军事攻势“便将宣告终结”。…
5月6日新泽西州伯灵顿报道，美国连锁折扣零售商伯灵顿商店（Burlington）计划于本月在20个州开设逾24家新店。目前在全美已拥有超过1000家门店的零售商，随着业务版图持续不断扩张。 伯灵店连锁商店曾在今年3月份宣布，在截至2027年1月30日的2026财年内，计划净增110家新店，并将在佐治亚州萨凡纳（Savannah）新建一座配送中心。 截至2025财年第四季度末，伯灵顿商店共运营着1212家门店，业务范围覆盖全美46个州，以及华盛顿特区和美国自由邦波多黎各。 伯灵顿新店盛大开业活动预计将于5月8日拉开帷幕，首批开业的四家门店分别位于加利福尼亚州的圣塔克拉利塔（Santa Clarita)、俄亥俄州的哥伦布（Columbus)，以及华盛顿州的肯特（Kent）和朗维尤（Longview）社区。 伯灵顿商店将于5月15日迎来更大规模的门店开业潮，共有12家门店定于以下地点正式开业： 亚利桑那州阿文代尔（Avondale) 加利福尼亚州贝克斯菲尔德（Bakersfield) 佛罗里达州杰克逊维尔（Jacksonville) 伊利诺伊州伯本奈（Bourbonnais) 肯塔基州路易斯维尔（Louisville) 密歇根州格拉蒂奥特堡镇（Fort Gratiot Township) 纽约州埃尔迈拉（Elmira）…
5月6日德州奥斯汀报道，美国亿万富翁马斯克（Elon Musk）计划在德克萨斯州东部建造的“特拉法布”（Terafab）大型芯片制造工厂，其第一阶段工程的成本预计至少为550亿美元；若项目全面建成，总投资额最高可能达到1190亿美元。 该芯片工厂的预估资本投资金额来自该拟建工厂所在地德克萨斯州格莱姆斯县（Grimes County）今天发布的一份公开听证会通知，因为马斯克实际控制的太空探索技术公司（SpaceX）正寻求与该县达成一项房产税减免协议。格莱姆斯县定于6月3日举行公开听证会，以审议上述拟议的税收优惠方案。 此前，目前已收购人工智能企业xAI的太空探索技术公司上个月在社交平台X上发布的一条帖子显示，身兼特斯拉（Tesla）首席执行官的马斯克，其目标是将这座名为“特拉法布”的芯片工厂打造为“史上最宏大的芯片制造工程——将逻辑芯片、存储芯片及先进封装技术集于同一屋檐之下”。马斯克已于今年3月正式启动了该项目。 这座位于德克萨斯州奥斯汀（Austin）郊外的芯片综合制造基地，旨在为太空探索技术公司、人工智能公司xAI和电动汽车制造商特斯拉生产芯片，并将由上述3家公司联合建设。马斯克在社交媒体X平台上的一篇帖子中透露，xAI公司“将不再作为一家独立实体存在”，而是会被更名为“SpaceXAI”。 今年4月，美国科技巨头英特尔（Intel）公司宣布将加入“特拉法布”项目，协助“大规模设计、制造及封装超高性能芯片”。对于英特尔旗下资本密集型的代工制造业务而言，这是其迄今为止获得的首笔来自外部的重大业务承诺；在此之前，英特尔的代工部门仅负责为其自身产品制造芯片。 在上个月举行的特斯拉第一季度财报电话会议上，马斯克表示，特斯拉计划利用英特尔即将推出的“14A”制程工艺，在该工厂内进行芯片生产。受此消息提振，英特尔股价应声大涨，并在4月份创下了公司历史上表现最佳的单月纪录，股价涨幅超过一倍。 随着台湾芯片制造商台积电（TSMC）的制造产能日益紧俏，美国芯片巨头英伟达（Nvidia）和苹果（Apple）等科技巨头已在此预订了未来数年的芯片制造资源，英特尔（Intel）正处于有利地位，有望从当前持续火热的人工智能浪潮中获益。 马斯克曾在今年1月举行的特斯拉财报电话会议上表示，现有的关键芯片供应商根本无法生产出足以满足该汽车制造商需求的硬件；他还指出，建设一座超级晶圆厂“特拉法布”“实际上对于确保我们能够抵御任何地缘政治风险也至关重要”。 马斯克在近期举行的另一次财报电话会议上还透露，特斯拉目前“仍在敲定’特拉法布’部署方案的细节”；该公司计划在其位于德克萨斯州奥斯汀的工厂内建设的另一座用于研发的晶圆厂项目预计耗资约30亿美元，且“月产能有望达到数千片晶圆”。 马斯克在电话会议中还表示：“太空探索技术公司将负责推进 ‘特拉法布’扩建计划的初期阶段工作。” 随着太空探索技术公司计划在未来数月内启动公开募股（IPO），该公司的财务状况正逐步公之于众。今年4月，即该公司与人工智能企业xAI 完成合并（合并后实体估值高达1.75万亿美元）的数周之后，太空探索技术公司便以保密方式提交了首次公开募股的申请文件。
LOS ANGELES, May 6 – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has directed the…