Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said he invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Olympics as his personal guest during a surprise visit to Kyiv on Friday.
But he’s at odds with the IOC when it comes to their stance on Russian athletes.
Following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – supported by Belarus – in February 2022, World Athletics is the only Olympic sports federation to have banned all Russian and Belarussian athletes from elite competition.
In the meeting with the Ukrainian president, World Athletics committed to keep providing financial support for the country’s athletes.
Coe also stopped by the Ukrainian Athletics Championships in Lviv, the event that determined which athletes will compete in the Olympics.
Persons:
Sebastian Coe, Volodymyr Zelensky, “, Coe, CNN’s Amanda Davies, Ukraine –, Zelensky, ”
Organizations:
Ukraine CNN —, International Olympic, IOC, Belarus –, Athletics, Olympic, Paris, country’s Sports Ministry, Ukrainian Athletics, CNN, Games
Locations:
Kyiv, Ukraine, Paris, Belarus, Lviv