State Duma deputy and Olympic speed skating champion Svetlana Zhurova believes that other countries may boycott the Games in Paris if the Russians participate. His words were quoted “Sports Express”.
“Or the IOC will face completely unbearable obstacles for our athletes: leaving the country, condemning the SVO. Or simply Macron and the mayor of Paris will ban the entry of our athletes. If our athletes are allowed, everyone will boycott. Because of one or two athletes from Belarus or Russia, the whole world will try to blackmail the IOC and the French government a month before the Olympics,” Zhurova said.
At the end of February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) appealed to international sports federations, recommending that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to participate in any competitions.
To qualify for the Games, Russian athletes will have to sign updated conditions of participation that include a commitment to respect the Olympic Charter, including the “peaceful mission of the Olympic movement”, the IOC said.
Formerly in the State Duma connected Russia’s admission to the Olympics with a political move.
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Source: Gazeta
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