State Duma Deputy Dmitry Pirog commented on the statement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on the criteria for the admission of Russian athletes to competitions.
Yesterday, January 25, the IOC announced that it is considering the possibility of allowing Russian athletes who do not support the conduct of a special operation on the territory of Ukraine to participate in international competitions in a neutral status.
“The explanations of the International Olympic Committee are more like exploring the land. We know that Thomas Bach has repeatedly talked about the inviolability of Olympic principles, respect for the nationality of athletes, but at the same time he continues the anti-Russian campaign.
And now it all looks like political manipulation, some kind of blackmail. Another attempt to put a good face on a bad game. The conditions announced by the IOC are provocation and speculation.
You cannot deprive athletes of their nationality, views and position. Politics should not interfere with sports. This is against the Olympic Charter, ”quotes the deputy “Sports Express”.
Recall that at the end of February 2022, the IOC addressed international sports federations and recommended that domestic and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to participate in any competitions.
Former Olympic biathlon champion Sebastian Samuelsson judicial The decision of the IOC executive committee to return the Russians to international tournaments is sad and unexpected.
Source: Gazeta
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.