MOSCOW, Oct 27, Oleg Bogatov. Vice President of the All-Russian Volleyball Federation ( VFV) Gennady Shipulin, in a conversation with, called the decision to remove the Russian national volleyball teams from participation in the qualifying tournament of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris an arbitrariness that must be fought by all means. On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that the Russian men's and women's team in volleyball are not allowed to participate in the Olympic qualification tournament. Lists of 24 teams that can play in the Olympic qualification were formed on the basis of the ranking of the teams of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). Russian teams were not included in the number of participants due to suspension from international competitions. «Of course, we have chances, but, unfortunately, they do not depend on our teams. We must fight, protest in every possible way and show our disagreement. I think that «So it will be. Our country will fight with all sorts of methods. This is arbitrariness and the continuation of an unfair attitude towards Russia in all sports. Another dirty trick from those people who hardly understand that sport is peace,» Shipulin said. «and I think that no one will sit idly by. But it's hard for me to say how the situation will turn out. Now it's like we were nailed from above with something, they hatch some crazy ideas over and over again. Not understanding what is behind this athletes, because sport is a great art,” Shipulin added. At the end of February, the IOC recommended that sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions due to the situation in Ukraine. Most IFs have followed this recommendation. In October, the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, at the general assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees, called for continued compliance with recommendations regarding sanctions against athletes from Russia and Belarus.
