The Deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and former world boxing champion Nikolai Valuev criticized the International Olympic Committee and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for their stance on athletes from Russia and Belarus. He described their actions as a block on participation and labeled the body as a kind of improvised, unaccountable institution, while suggesting that this approach would be reconsidered as the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach. Valuev spoke about the prospects for Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Paris Games in terms of political maneuvering and control over who can compete, a topic that has drawn attention from fans and pundits alike. (attribution: sports24)
According to Valuev, PACE has become a kind of platform without direct orders, a sentiment he linked to broader political dynamics in Europe. He argued that it took time for Russia to shift away from what he called a restrictive framework. He also commented on the ambitions of some Ukrainian voices to influence the leadership of the Olympic movement, suggesting these efforts were aimed at reshaping the governance of the sport. Valuev asserted that the leadership would push back against such efforts, with Thomas Bach expected to defend his established role within the IOC because a change in leadership could threaten the status quo. (attribution: sports24)
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued guidance to international sport federations recommending that athletes from Russia and Belarus be restricted from competing in major events. This guidance reflected the IOC’s attempt to balance competitive integrity with the broader geopolitical climate and the expectations of member nations. (attribution: IOC)
During the IOC Executive Board meeting on March 28, there was a recommendation that Russian competitors who did not actively support the host country’s stance be permitted to participate under a neutral flag. However, athletes affiliated with law enforcement or armed forces, including members of sports societies such as CSKA and Dynamo, were excluded from competition. This distinction highlighted the ongoing debate over how to classify athletes who are linked to government institutions while competing internationally. (attribution: IOC)
Separately, former American ice dance partners Madison Chock and Evan Bates criticized the IOC for not awarding medals in the team competition at the 2022 Olympic Games, a point that added to the broad conversation about how results are recognized and remembered in a Games driven by both sport and diplomacy. (attribution: American press)