International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach appreciated the possibility of Russian skier Alexander Bolshunov to participate in the tournaments.
“We need to distinguish between military service, which is compulsory for all men in Russia, and those who remain in the army or similar structures after this service. This whole system is very complex,” Bach quotes “Championship.com”.
After the discussion, he noted that there should be a coordinated approach to this issue in all sports branches.
It should be recalled that at the meeting of the IOC Executive Committee on March 28, the issue of admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions was discussed.
The organization recommended that the Russians be allowed to remain in a neutral status if the athletes did not actively support the war. Athletes representing law enforcement and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
Bolshunov is a two-time winner of the World Cup and winner of the Tour de Ski. At the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, the Russian won five medals, three of which were gold. He was the standard bearer of the Russian team at the closing ceremony of the games.
Former IOC president Thomas Bach declarationHe said Russia was sanctioned for violating the Olympic Armistice.