State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova responded to the words of the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Russian athletes from establishing contacts with the National Olympic Committee (NOC), noting that Russian athletes were forced to accept this. refugee situation, reports RT.
“The European Union is trying to get athletes to accept refugee status. I’ve said this from the very beginning. They tried to impress Vladimir Putin by saying he would ban travel without a flag and anthem. But it didn’t work,” Zhurova said.
At the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) appealed to international sports federations, recommending that domestic and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to participate in any competitions due to the political situation.
At the meeting of the IOC Executive Committee on March 28, 2023, it was proposed to allow the Russians to remain in neutral status if the athletes are not actively involved in supporting military operations. Athletes representing law enforcement agencies and armed forces will not be allowed to compete.
Formerly in the State Duma statedThat the IOC wants to eliminate Russia as a sports power.