Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from participating in the upcoming World Games 2022 in Birmingham. The ban also includes official representatives of the two nations.

Belarus reportedly plans to join Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

The World Games 2022 Birmingham Organizing Committee on Monday announced its vote to ban the two nations from official events. The announcement advised that the decision came on the heels of the International Olympic Committee’s executive board recommending the ban on Monday morning.

World Games 2022 CEO Nick Sellers and Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin will address the decision on Tuesday at noon.

The World Games 2022, organized in coordination with the International Olympic Committee, is scheduled to take place in Alabama’s Magic City July 7-17.

The World Games 2022 Birmingham Organizing Committee has voted to ban athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from participating in The World Games 2022 in Birmingham this July.

Read more → https://t.co/ltGQSKjLWN#TWG2022 pic.twitter.com/lDfRodcCsx

— The World Games 2022 Birmingham (@TWG2022) February 28, 2022

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL