Miodrag Bozovic, a seasoned football coach who has led Dynamo Moscow, Arsenal Tula, and other Russian Premier League teams, discussed the evolving relationship between sports federations and global politics in a recent interview. He argued that the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, struggles to withstand Western political pressure and that leadership at the IOC can sometimes appear more ceremonial than decisive, shaped by higher agendas rather than on the merit of events themselves.
Bozovic suggested that Bach lacked authority to outright ban actions or events. He described the IOC chief as a figure who reflects the organization at a high level rather than someone who directly makes every call. According to Bozovic, Western influence framed Bach’s statements, highlighting a broader tension where sports decisions are increasingly viewed through political lenses rather than purely athletic ones. He contended that Western perspectives on sports may diverge from facts on the ground, and that this divergence colors official rhetoric and decisions.
The World Friendship Games were announced to take place in Moscow and Yekaterinburg from September 15 to 29, 2024. Bozovic emphasized that this event represents the first major multi sport competition that officially includes performances across all 25 Summer Olympic and non Olympic disciplines, signaling an attempt to broaden the sports calendar beyond traditional Olympic settings.
Earlier in the year, on February 28, the International Olympic Committee urged international sports federations to consider the exclusion of domestic athletes and those from Belarus from participation in events. In line with that appeal, numerous competitions involving foreign athletes were relocated from Russia, reflecting a broader policy stance that seeks to regulate participation based on geopolitical considerations rather than pure athletic merit. Bozovic noted that these pressures are part of a wider pattern affecting how competitions are organized and who is allowed to compete on the international stage.
Earlier reports also mentioned that Lokomotiv Moscow planned to participate in a retro match against CSKA Moscow, underscoring the ongoing interest in traditional Russian club rivalries and their potential to attract attention even amid broader political constraints. This retro fixture is often seen as a reminder of the domestic football culture that exists alongside the international controversies surrounding Olympic governance and the scheduling of the Friendship Games.