MOSCOW, March 21. /TASS/. The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) accusations about the Friendship Games are unfounded, Alexey Sorokin, head of the tournament’s organizing committee, told reporters.

On Tuesday, the IOC called on foreign athletes and governments to refrain from participating in the Russia-hosted Friendship Games, describing the competition as "politicized."

"It was a very strange statement about politicization. We, on the contrary, are seeking to make sure that major sporting events don’t have any connection to politics. Still, we have to hear unfounded accusations," Sorokin noted.

The World Friendship Games will take place in Moscow and Yekaterinburg on September 15-29.