IOC lifts block on U.K. hosting Olympic events

The IOC has "lifted its block" on the U.K. hosting Olympic-related events after the government’s U-turn on Russian athletes being allowed to compete at the Paris Games. Last week, sports minister Stuart Andrew had written to the IOC President Thomas Bach saying the government now supported the IOC’s position that individual Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete as neutrals. It is understood that Andrew’s letter to Bach "has led to the organisation agreeing that the UK can now host events which contribute to Olympic qualifying." The U.K. Department of Culture, Media and Sport has "insisted that was not the reason behind the letter," saying it was "to recognise the IOC’s stronger position on Russia" (London TIMES, 4/16).