At the “Russia is a Sports Power” forum in Perm, Russian President Vladimir Putin touched upon the attitude of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) towards ethnic discrimination against Russian athletes.
“Thanks to some leaders of the modern International Olympic Committee, we have learned that an invitation to the games is not an unconditional right given to the best athletes, but a kind of privilege, and that this can be won not by sports results, but by some political gestures. that it can be used as a tool of political pressure against people who have nothing to do with sports and the Games have nothing to do with politics. “In fact, it is ethnic discrimination of Russians,” Putin said.
At the meeting of the IOC Executive Committee on March 28, it was proposed to allow the Russians to maintain neutral status if their athletes do not take an active part in supporting military operations. Athletes representing law enforcement agencies and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
On October 12, the IOC announced the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) until further notice, following the inclusion of the Olympic Councils of the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions in the Russian organization. The IOC also stated that it reserves the right to make a decision at the necessary time on the admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Formerly in the State Duma statedThat the IOC wants to eliminate Russia as a sports power.