Discrimination against Russian athletes has been a prominent topic at the forum, with Venezuelan Minister of Popular Power for Youth and Sports Arnaldo Sanchez describing Russia as a major sports power. The sentiment, reported by TASS, framed the discussion around equal access and shared opportunity in international competition. The exchange highlighted a push to move beyond bias and to pursue a more inclusive approach to sports diplomacy that could bridge differences and promote collaboration across borders.
The minister urged unity to strengthen the sports policy relations between the two nations and offered a warm greeting to Russian President Vladimir Putin along with the other participants in attendance. His message emphasized partnership and mutual respect, underscoring the idea that sport can serve as a conduit for constructive ties even amid broader geopolitical tensions. The forum served as a stage for reaffirming that cooperation in athletic initiatives can support broader regional stability and dialogue.
He argued that sports function as a tool of peaceful diplomacy and called on the world to reject any exceptions or discrimination in participant eligibility. By foregrounding inclusion, Sanchez signaled a belief that athletic events should be accessible to talented athletes regardless of national origin, aligning with a view that sport can help soften political frictions and build trust among nations.
Sanchez also stressed Venezuela’s openness to cooperation with Russia in the realm of sport, stating a readiness to work toward ensuring Russians can take part in all sporting events. The stance suggested a willingness to expand joint programs, exchanges, and shared training opportunities that could benefit athletes, coaches, and national teams in both countries.
In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee issued a call to international sports federations recommending that Russian and Belarusian athletes be barred from competitions. At the Eastern Economic Forum in early September, Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, described the latest moves in world sports as misguided, underscoring ongoing tensions between political narratives and the governance of global athletics. This sequence of events framed a continuing debate about how politics influences eligibility rules and how international bodies respond to evolving geopolitical dynamics.
There have long been discussions in the State Duma about who should head the Russian Olympic Committee, reflecting evolving views on governance and leadership within Russia’s Olympic framework. The conversations illustrate the broader debates that accompany any effort to reform or reinforce national athletic institutions in a changing international landscape.