The celebrated figure skating coach from the USSR, Tatyana Tarasova, voiced concerns about the decline in the performance level of Russian hockey players. Her remarks reflect a broader debate about the state of the sport within the country.
She questioned whether football receives more air time on Russian television than hockey. Tarasova argued that hockey deserves greater attention and investment, but she emphasized that improvement on the ice would naturally draw more focus. Her comments came as she suggested that the current generation of hockey players has not been meeting expectations, and she indicated she is not alone in that assessment. She noted that football enjoys considerable visibility and admitted she does not fully understand the heavy emphasis on football in the sports scene.
In late February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged international sports federations to bar Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in competitions. This move underscored a broader effort to respond to geopolitical tensions with sport-specific suspensions and bans, affecting athletes and teams across disciplines.
Regarding the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the IOC held back on inviting Russia, setting a firm deadline only for eligibility by July 26, 2023. The decision on whether Russian athletes would participate in Paris was subsequently postponed, with IOC President Thomas Bach stating at a press conference that a final determination would be made no later than one year before the Games, effectively extending the window for consideration and potential adjustments.
Previously, Tarasova had also raised concerns about the International Swimming Federation, continuing a pattern of public critique toward major sport governing bodies when decisions or developments affected Russian athletes and their international competition privileges. Her outspoken stance has kept her at the center of discussions about fairness, representation, and the balance between national interests and global sports governance, especially in times of political strain and sanctions on Russian sports participation. [Attribution: IOC policy statements; Paris 2024 Olympic eligibility discussions; Tarasova commentary on swimming governance]