World Athletics President Promises Increased Support for Ukraine in Meeting with Zelensky

Sebastian Coe, the President of World Athletics, promised to continue supporting Ukraine in its defense against the Russian military invasion during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. According to Reuters, he met with Zelensky on Friday before participating in the Ukrainian Athletics Championships in Lviv, discussing the challenges Ukraine faces due to the war with Russia. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) stated on Monday, July 2, that Coe emphasized the unwavering support of World Athletics for the people and athletes of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russian aggression, committing to continue financial support for Ukrainian athletes through the Ukraine Fund. The International Olympic Committee has opened its doors to Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics as 'neutral athletes without flags, symbols, or anthems'; however, the IAAF has banned Russian athletes from all athletics competitions due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The British citizen Coe, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in athletics and politically active, previously stated that as long as Russian forces are in Ukraine, the country is not allowed to participate in any global athletics events. Coe had also mentioned in 2022 that 'the death and destruction we have seen in Ukraine over the past year, including the deaths of about 185 athletes, has strengthened my resolve on this matter.' However, after the establishment of a working group by the IAAF to monitor the situation, his stance softened, and in December 2023, he stated that he would advise the Sports Policy Council on the conditions under which the ban on Russian athletes might be lifted. He added, 'The world changes every five minutes; the situation may change.' During the military invasion of Ukraine, which has lasted over two years, Ukraine's sports infrastructure has been severely damaged, with over 500 sports venues affected or destroyed, and more than 400 athletes killed during the war. The World Athletics Federation is implementing new changes for the advancement of women in the sport.