On April 25, 2023, We Compete as One Foundation, established by Russian racecar driver Nikita Mazepin in order to provide comprehensive support to athletes who have been suspended from competitions for unsportsmanlike reasons, took the initiative to send an open letter to Thomas Bach President of the International Olympic Committee. Athletes, ambassadors, and friends of the Foundation signed the letter.
On May 15, 2023, a letter signed by Elena Rufova, CEO of We Compete As One Foundation, was sent to the International Olympic Committee via the feedback form on the IOC website, by email, and to the official address of the IOC in Switzerland – Maison Olympique 1007 Lausanne, and also sent to the media.
Unfortunately, the criteria recommended by the IOC for the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions make the participation of most athletes, including almost all national team leaders, in Olympic qualifying and other competitions unrealistic in practice.
At the same time, there are more and more voices all over the world that violation athletes’ rights should not take place in modern sports. International competitions lose their entertainment and quality without the strongest athletes, and fans lose interest in such tournaments.
Nikita Mazepin, founder of We Compete As One:
“Sport must remain a neutral territory. Only with this idea we will move forward.”
Elena Rufova, the CEO of WCAO:
“Athletes should be evaluated according to their abilities and sporting achievements, not by nationality or place of birth because this is the essence of world sport and the Olympic movement, these principles are spelled out in the Olympic Charter”.
The basic principles laid down in the Olympic Charter provide for the observance of the rights and freedoms of participants in the absence of any form of discrimination.
We Compete As One adheres to the position that all athletes, without exception, should have equal conditions for admission to participate in the Olympic Games. In particular, the opportunity to participate in team sports, not to undergo any individual checks that go beyond the Olympic Charter and the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
We hope that the personal participation and active position of IOC President Thomas Bach will contribute to this, and sport will once again become an open and friendly space for everyone without exception!