The International Olympic Committee has announced a plan to publish the events scheduled for the Paris Games specifically for residents of Russia on its official site. This update comes via a report from TASS, which cited the IOC’s press service as its source.
Meanwhile, broadcast rights for the Olympics inside Russia are held by the Telesport Group. The company is currently in the spotlight for legal issues, as its president, Petr Makarenko, faces arrest as a defendant in a fraud case. This development adds a layer of complexity to the broadcasting landscape around the Games in that country.
Earlier in 2022, the IOC invited international sports federations to consider the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes with restrictions. The organization urged federations to bar Russians and Belarusians from competing, a move reflecting the broader sanctions climate at the time. By late 2023, the IOC indicated a shift toward allowing neutral Russian and Belarusian athletes to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games, contingent on meeting a set of qualification criteria and demonstrating a neutral status. The decision underscored the balancing act between upholding sanctions and preserving fair competition at the Games.
In response to the sanctions framework, Russia proposed a separate event, known as the Friendship Games, with the aim of offering athletes an alternative platform. The announcement of this event occurred in September 2024, and the organizers faced a leadership transition when the general director, Alexey Sorokin, stepped down from his post a month later. By mid-July, Russian officials had signaled that the Friendship Games would be postponed to 2025, a move that reflected ongoing organizational adjustments in the face of external pressures and scheduling uncertainties.
There has also been chatter regarding leadership changes tied to the sport’s international governance, including reports that Elena Isinbaeva may depart the IOC following the 2024 Olympic Games. These discussions point to evolving relationships between Russian athletes, national sports bodies, and international Olympic structures, as stakeholders reassess participation, governance, and long-term strategy in the wake of ongoing geopolitical and administrative shifts. [Citation: IOC press service; [Source: TASS]]