Two-time Olympic champion in artistic gymnastics, Lidia Ivanova, condemned the IOC’s stance on Russian competitors as a public insult, voicing strong disagreement with the proposed policy shift.
At an IOC executive committee session on March 28, President Thomas Bach proposed that Russian athletes be allowed to enter international events only as neutral competitors and solely if they do not publicly publicize support for the IOC’s positions. The plan also stated that the team would not be associated with Ukraine, its security services, or its armed forces.
“I understand the pressure today’s athletes feel. They train relentlessly, peak once in a lifetime, and the moment to perform is precious. I hear the disappointment and the sacrifice behind that realization, but in my heart I cannot accept this humiliation. Should we bow and crawl into these competitions on our stomachs? I do not agree with this guidance,” Ivanova told Match TV, articulating a sentiment shared by many athletes who faced the same crossroads.
Ivanova’s remarks underscored a broader debate about fairness and competitive integrity. She emphasized that the Olympic dream should be accessible to the strongest performers, and she signaled that the proposed neutral status could undermine the spirit of the Games by imposing conditions that feel incompatible with the athletes’ identities and ambitions.
Additional statements from the organization indicated a restriction on Russian and Belarusian athletes participating in team sports, a move that would limit opportunities for athletes who compete most effectively within collaborative, multi-player formats.
Commentary from other political and diplomatic figures has echoed concern about the implications of linking athletes to military institutions. For example, Vendant Patel, a former assistant secretary of state, expressed worry that associations between athletes and military bodies could blur lines between sportsmanship and state power and complicate the interpretation of neutrality in international sports. These concerns highlight the tension between political accountability and the pursuit of inclusive competition on the world stage. Citations: (official IOC remarks; statements reported by national media; diplomatic commentary from state officials)