SIRIUS /Federal Territory/, March 4. /TASS/. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov slammed the activity of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and IOC President Thomas Bach as a betrayal of the ideals of the Olympic movement.

"There have been boycotts in history. We boycotted the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (in 1984 - TASS), the West boycotted the Games in Moscow, the Moscow Olympics (in 1980 - TASS). Later, things seemed to straighten out. But what is now happening to the sports movement, what the leaders of the International Olympic Committee and Thomas Bach personally are doing, I think this is a betrayal of the ideals of the Olympic movement," he told a session of the World Youth Festival.

TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman is moderating the festival’s session on Russia and its role in shaping a multipolar world.

On December 8, 2023, the IOC allowed Russian athletes to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris in a neutral status. The IOC noted that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be admitted to all team competitions. Participation in the Olympics will also be denied to those who actively support military operations and are associated with the army or national security organizations. Officials will be denied accreditation. The display of official symbols of Russia and Belarus will be prohibited at the Olympics

The World Youth Festival is taking place in the Sirius Federal Territory in far southern Russia on March 1-7, 2024. More than 300,000 people from 190 countries have applied to take part. Participants in the festival’s regional program will visit 30 Russian cities on March 10-17. TASS is the event’s general information partner.