Ukrainian saber fencer Olga Kharlan harshly criticized the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to allow Russian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, noting that it did not surprise her, but angered her. He published the relevant post on his Instagram page (its owner, Meta, is known as an extremist and is banned in Russia).
“Russian athletes have no status in the Olympic Games and other international competitions. Knowing this, the IOC (which itself had expelled the Russian committee from its organization) decided to allow Russian athletes to participate in the Olympic Games with neutral status. <...>
We will do everything to ensure that the athletes, the national committee and other countries participate in the removal of this shameful decision. Harlan wrote that the Paris Games would also provide a fair competition environment for medals.
On December 8, the International Olympic Committee allowed athletes from Russia to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games with neutral status.
The IOC said Russian athletes will be required to sign updated conditions of participation, which include a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter, including the “peaceful mission of the Olympic movement”. Russian athletes who rank well in their own disciplines will be allowed to compete.
In 2022, against the background of the start of SVO in Ukraine, the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach recommended that international federations exclude Russian athletes from international competitions. On January 25, 2023, the IOC announced that it was considering the possibility of allowing Russian athletes who do not support the holding of the SBO to participate in international competitions in a neutral status.
Harlan was involved in a major scandal at the 2023 World Fencing Championships. After her fight with Russian Anna Kharlan, she refused to shake her opponent’s hand and was therefore disqualified and did not participate in the next round. The disqualification decision was later overturned.
Previously Russia guess Loss of self-esteem due to IOC conditions.
Source: Gazeta
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