The International Olympic Committee (IOC) paved the way in late January for athletes from those countries, banned from many international competitions a year ago after Russia invaded Ukraine, to compete without flags or anthems.

Many countries publicly oppose the IOC’s proposal and Ukraine threatens to boycott the Paris Olympics as long as Russian troops remain on the ground. Ukraine.

The COC said it supports the IOC’s recommendation that Russia and Belarus should be excluded from international competitions, but added that he was ready to explore how athletes from both countries could compete as neutrals in Paris.

“We condemn the recent public statements issued by the COC in support of the ‘path finding’ for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as ‘neutrals’ at the 2024 Paris Olympics,” the athletes wrote in an open letter.

Canadian Olympians justify COC “opening the door” no longer concerned about Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Only the withdrawal of the troops of the aggressor will be the basis for the return of athletes to Russia and Belarus to compete internationally.

Canada was among 35 countries to issue a joint statement in February calling on the IOC to clarify its definition of “neutrality” and declaring its support for the exclusion of Russians and Belarusians from international competitions.

COC chief executive David Shoemaker told CBC Sports last month that athletes from both countries would have to publicly denounce the war to gain the neutrality status they will need for their check-in.

“Recent remarks by COC activists in favor of neutrality terms are baseless and irrelevant. In Russia, it is illegal to publicly condemn military actions abroad,” the letter added.

The signatories of the document include: Three-time Olympic champion in ice dance duo Tessa Virtue, four-time Olympic champion in ice hockey Hayley Wickenheiser, two-time Olympic champion in moguls Alexander Bilodeau and Olympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing Becky Scott.