The Korea Sport and Olympic Committee has sent a letter to the Olympic Council of Asia in a bid to get clarification over the possible involvement of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Asian Games ©Getty Images

The Korea Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) is calling on the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for more clarification over the potential participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes at this year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou.

According to South Korean news agency Yonhap, the KSOC intends to submit a letter to the OCA to find out how the Games will be run with the involvement of athletes from the two nations.

The OCA has confirmed its readiness to welcome Russian and Belarusian competitors after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) opened the door for their return under "strict conditions" of neutrality.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been largely frozen out of international sport in response to the invasion of Ukraine but are now being offered a possible avenue to Paris 2024 via OCA competitions.

Among those events include this year's delayed Asian Games, scheduled to take place from September 23 until October 8.

Russian athletes could compete at the Asian Games in Hangzhou under a neutral banner ©Getty Images
Russian athletes could compete at the Asian Games in Hangzhou under a neutral banner ©Getty Images

OCA Acting President Randhir Singh has revealed that a system is being devised to enable Russian and Belarusian athletes to fight for qualification spots at next year’s Olympic Games but has promised that competitors from Asia will not miss out on medals and quota places for Paris 2024.

The KSOC has told Yonhap that there has been no consultation from the OCA over the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus and is demanding answers from the continental body.

"With Russian and Belarusian athletes participating, operating knockout events at the Asian Games can pose some problems," said an official from the KSOC.

"We will ask the OCA how it will handle those situations, and also in what sports Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete at the Asian Games."

Singh has suggested that separate medals could be awarded to athletes from Asian nations should Russian and Belarusian competitors deny them a place on the podium.

The Indian official also said that they will not be able to participate in combat sports, like wrestling, at the Asian Games.

OCA Acting President Randhir Singh has insisted that
OCA Acting President Randhir Singh has insisted that "sport is not a place for politics" as he defended the decision to welcome Russian and Belarusian competitors in Asian competitions ©OCA

Ukraine has slammed the IOC's decision to further explore a pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes and threatened to boycott Paris 2024.

Norway, Poland, Estonia and Latvia are among the other European nations that are opposed to the move.

Singh said the reason why the OCA has offered to give athletes from Russia and Belarus the chance to compete at its event was based on the "principle that sport is a unifying power".

"Sport is not a place for politics," Singh told the Indian Express.

"Sports are for sports people; for love, friendship and brotherhood.

"Sports people are one family.

"On that basis, we are supporting them."

South Korea is ranked third in the all-time Asian Games medals table and finished in the top three at Jakarta-Palembang 2018 with 177 medals including 49 golds.

insidethegames has contacted the OCA for comment.