BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 6. Azerbaijan's
National Olympic Committee (NOC) has expressed serious concern and
protest against using the political and separatist song "Artsakh"
by the figure skaters Nikita Rakhmanin and Karina Akopova,
representing Armenia at the XXV Winter Olympic Games, to the
International Olympic Committee (IOC), Trend reports via NOC.
The attention of the IOC officials was drawn to the fact that
the expression "Artsakh" reflects the ideological essence of the
illegal and separatist policy pursued by Armenia for many years in
relation to the internationally recognized territories of
Azerbaijan. In this regard, the choice of this program in an
international sports event such as the Olympic Games, which should
remain outside politics, has a clear political and ideological
meaning and contradicts Olympic values.
It was noted that, according to the basic principles of the
Olympic Charter, any political, ideological, and separatist
propaganda shouldn't be allowed at the Olympic Games. One of the
missions of the IOC is to keep sports outside politics and oppose
the exploitation of athletes and competitions for political
purposes.
Such situations harm the spirit of the Olympic Games, sports
ethics, and international sports principles; violate the principle
of neutrality of the Olympic Movement; and at the same time
undermine the atmosphere of peace and mutual trust in the
region.
In its protest, the NOC reiterated that the Olympic Games are a
symbol of peace, friendship, and mutual respect between peoples,
and that using this platform for political and separatist
propaganda purposes is unacceptable.
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