MOSCOW, Mar 27 FIS Cross Country Director ) Frenchman Pierre Minieri urged foreign athletes to support Russian colleagues, and not to reject them. Earlier, four-time Olympic champion Norwegian Teresa Johaug criticized Russian athletes who took part in a rally concert on March 18 in honor of the Day of the reunification of Crimea with Russia. Among them was the three-time winner of the Beijing Olympic Games Alexander Bolshunov. «I would like more understanding from our foreign colleagues. If we want something to change, we need to do something to bring them closer to us. We must not reject, but support,” Minieri told NRK, adding that he was not sure that the Russian athletes voluntarily participated in the concert at Luzhniki. world in Tyumen, and then decided not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in competitions under the auspices of the organization. This decision was made in accordance with the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the ban will be valid until the end of the 2021/22 season.
