“In case the Latvian national team is drawn to play against Russia or Belarus, the international sports organizations will have to respect Latvian legislation,” said Dāvis Mārtiņš Daugavietis, chairman of the sports sub-committee in the Latvian parliament.
The International Olympic Committee has left the door open for individual Russian athletes to take part at the Paris 2024 Olympics as neutral competitors. The Latvian parliament said Thursday’s move does not regulate the participation of its athletes in the Olympics, but that would remain a decision for the Latvian Olympic Committee.
Daugavietis added: “It should be taken into account that the sports teams of the aggressor countries can no longer qualify for the Olympic Games.”
Belarus has been a close ally of Putin since he launched his all-out war on Ukraine in February 2022, a position which has drawn international criticism and sanctions.
