The Russian government will not prevent neutral athletes from competing at this summer's Paris Olympics, according to the deputy prime minister's latest comments. Dmitry Chernyshenko.
“The conditions created by the International Olympic Committee and the international federations are such that virtually none of our athletes will be able to go there and will not be able to qualify,” Chernyshenko said last week. . “There are quite a few sports where such an opportunity remains, in which case the national federations and the Russian Olympic Committee will have to take a decision together. If the athletes have the opportunity, they should probably go. .”
In December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved a plan for athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics as neutral countries without a national flag or anthem. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 (with support from Belarus), they were banned from competing in international competitions, but the IOC issued a recommendation in March last year, paving the way for their return. . However, Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the conditions for participation in the Olympics in December, saying no decision had yet been made on Russia's participation in Paris this summer.
To qualify, athletes must meet a series of strict criteria, including not “actively” supporting the war in Ukraine and not having contracts with the Russian or Belarusian military. Teams from Russia and Belarus will also be ineligible.
In particular, neutral athletes will no longer be required to sign a declaration condemning last year's invasion of Ukraine. Instead, like other athletes, they must reaffirm their commitment to respecting the Olympic Charter, including the “peace mission of the Olympic Movement.” Two-time Olympic champion swimmer in September Evgeny Lilov told Russian media that he would refuse to sign a political declaration in exchange for a return to international competition.
Chernyshenko said, “The evaluation of the Olympics should be made by the athletes themselves.'' “If the IOC officially confirms that the conditions that eligible athletes must abstain from are: [invasion of Ukraine] If the renunciation of the homeland is lifted, I think there will be no legal obstacles for athletes to go to the Olympics. ”
According to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, only 12 Russian athletes and seven Belarusian athletes have so far been approved as neutral athletes for the Paris Olympics.
World Aquatics has decided to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to return to international competition in September. Several Belarusian swimmers competed in the final round of the World Cup series in Budapest in October. Russia last month opted to skip the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar, where athletes from neutral Belarus were prohibited from speaking to the media.
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In other news from Russia, the head of the country's National Olympic Committee said: Stanislav Pozdnyakovpointed to the US's responsibility for the ongoing friction with the IOC.
“thomas bach “Restoring relations between the IOC and Russia depends entirely on the Republic of China,” Pozdnyakov wrote. “There remain intelligent people in the world of sport who understand that the key to overcoming the artificially created barriers within the Olympic family that have hitherto been held in the hands of Lausanne lies on the other side of the Atlantic. I wonder?
“Today, unfortunately, the IOC has lost its autonomy and independence, and this is clearly reflected in the mirror of the world. Therefore, all their slogans and statements come from the other side of the mirror.”
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) recognized four regional sports bodies illegally annexed from Ukraine and lost access to IOC funds as part of a suspension last October for violating the Olympic Charter. .
“The IOC has openly chosen sides in the political conflict from the beginning, has consistently carried out external political imperatives of isolating Russian sport, contrary to its own mandate, and now “We are going so far as to delegate the right of recognition, allowing the candidacy of Olympic participants from one country to the National Olympic Committee of another,” Pozdnyakov added. “But at the same time, according to Lausanne, Russia is also working on the politicization of sport.
“To summarize the IOC's statements made over the past two days, there is a creeping feeling that the leadership of this organization has been engulfed by a deep mirror, that causality has been reversed, and that black people are being seen as white.” The parallel world of species has become reality. ”
Last summer, the IOC stopped recognizing the International Boxing Association (IBA) as the world governing body, citing ethical issues involving Russian businessman Umar Kremlev. Tensions between the two organizations flared again with last week's announcement that boxing may not be featured in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics unless an international governing body is established to replace the IBA.
“The International Boxing Association (IBA) strongly condemns this.” [IOC President] thomas bach [Sports Director] kit mcconnell [Executive Board member] with Nenad Lalović [Ethics and Compliance Director] “Pakeret Girard-Zapelli continues to position himself above the entire sports world in order to pursue his own harmful and politicized ambitions,” Kremlev said. “The time has come for this organization to reflect, understand its continued mistakes and draw appropriate conclusions. The IOC leadership once again seeks to destroy the sports family and violate all clear rules of democracy and transparency. “
