German Interior Minister Nancy Feser, who oversees sports in the country, has threatened not to issue visas to Russian athletes if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allows them to compete.
“Countries that host major sporting events are not powerless. Through their visa departments they can influence whether Russians actually attend.
If we organize international competitions in Germany, we can act accordingly. We will always take a clear position,” Feather said in an interview with the Funke media group.
The minister also objected to German athletes boycotting competitions attended by Russians. According to him, this will hurt his own athletes, who have long been preparing for this goal.
Recall that at the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee made an appeal to international sports federations and advised not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in any competitions.
At a meeting of the IOC executive committee on March 28, it was recommended that the Russians be allowed a neutral status if the athletes did not actively support the hostilities. Athletes representing law enforcement and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
Formerly three-time Olympic champion Alexander Bolshunov saidThat a Norwegian skier invited him to meet.