Russian gymnasts Dina and Arina Averina in an interview “Sports Express” He stated that it was not possible to create an alternative to the Olympic Games.
Athletes noted that holding the Friendship Games in Russia in 2024 will have a positive impact on the development of individual sports disciplines, but it is wrong to compare them with the Olympics in terms of intensity.
“Anyone who has competed in the Olympics cannot replace it with other competitions. There is a different atmosphere, communication, a village where other athletes live, completely different emotions and experiences. Therefore, of course, it cannot be changed,” the gymnasts said.
At the end of February 2022, the IOC issued an appeal to international sports federations, recommending that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to participate in any competitions due to the situation in Ukraine.
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.
Previously in the Kremlin statedHe said Russia would continue to work with the IOC.