The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Committee was held on Tuesday from which much was expected in Russia. The central issue was the admission of our athletes to international competitions, but there is still no final decision. It is still unknown whether they will be able to compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris — this will be considered by the IOC later, when it considers it necessary. Nevertheless, it was recommended to allow in a neutral status those Russians who do not support the SVO and are not connected in any way with the armed forces. We collected in one material the most vivid reactions of our officials, coaches and athletes to the conditions put forward by the IOC.
The head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Stanislav Pozdnyakov, did not restrain himself in assessing the results of the executive committee. First of all, he noted that the decisions taken are the recognition of the IOC's own mistakes made a year earlier.
“Today's decision of the IOC Executive Committee is regarded as an admission of our own mistake of February 28 last year. The IOC has actually recognized the fallacy of its actions a year ago. Now the IOC recommendations that have been in force for more than a year have been disavowed. The current IOC criteria are a violation of human rights, discrimination. We categorically disagree with the additional doping tests. As for the teams, this is discrimination not only by passport, but also by sport. The decisions of the executive committee are a farce, the principles of the IOC and the UN are violated. We demand equal conditions for athletes of all countries, «Pozdnyakov told reporters.
Also, Pozdnyakov reacted brightly to the decision to remove athletes who have anything to do with the armed forces.
“This is no longer just another chapter in the list of discriminatory sanctions. We believe that this criterion lays the foundation for an internal conflict in Russian sports, has the direct goal of splitting the community of Russian athletes, dividing them into unacceptable and the rest, not only on a national basis, in this context, as the IOC formulated today's position, it is possible that tennis is the only competition in which our athletes will take part,» the head of the ROC said.
Pozdnyakov’s fears were also shared by sports lawyer Anna Antseliovich, who in her commentary expressed confidence that the IOC recommendations would be interpreted broadly and deprive many athletes of the opportunity to compete.
““The IOC uses such wording that, I think, belonging to the armed forces will be interpreted broadly. Absolutely everyone will be hooked here. Thus, all athletes who have contracts or some kind of relationship with such organizations will not be allowed. At the same time, the final the decision and interpretation is up to the international federations. These were the recommendations of the IOC to them,» said Anceliovich.
Of course, in the professional community, the attitude towards the statements of the IOC is mostly indignant. In particular, two-time Olympic biathlon champion Dmitry Vasiliev said that people like Thomas Bach should be removed from leadership positions in sports organizations.
“Meanness, abomination, hypocrisy and cynicism in the highest degree. You should not expect anything good from these people. You just need to calmly prepare and do your job. The time will come when everyone will sit down at the negotiating table, where we will have to put forward our demands. so that such people are not in leadership positions in sports organizations. People like Thomas Bach destroyed the Olympic movement. I already have a corn on my tongue. He will go down in history as the man who destroyed the postulates of Pierre de Coubertin, «Vasilyev was indignant .
Veronika Stepanova did not keep her emotions in herself either, she instantly reacted to the latest news in the Telegram channel.
“Would you go to hell with all your conditions and recommendations, dear IOC? analyze my views and beliefs and decide whether to allow me to the World Cup. Run yourself in this case. And I can only repeat what I said for a whole year: we will overcome all difficulties. Definitely and without a doubt, «the skier wrote.
The head of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR), Elena Vyalbe, remains consistent and opposes the proposed conditions for the admission of Russian athletes. In her opinion, with such introductory international tournaments, we do not need.
““What I said earlier: I don’t even want to discuss it! I am categorically against the neutral status, all the more so there are a lot of additions:“ who does not support the NWO”, “who is not in the security and armed structures” and “who did not participate in Z concerts «In general, the IOC is once again trying to shift everything to the international federations, while, apparently, having already sent them instructions. My opinion: we do not need their international competitions under such conditions!», Vyalbe told our agency.
Alexey Zheleznyakov, the choreographer of the Eteri Tutberidze group, agrees with her, who believes that Russia should not agree with the recommendations of the IOC.
“I have a disgusting attitude towards this situation. I have already said that this is blackmail, manipulation, hypocrisy. We should not allow this either in sports, or in culture, anywhere. cheek, then they will give us a slap on the back of the head, and after the slap we will be dipped in one latrine. This will go on increasing. How much is it possible?President of the Russian Skating Union (SCR) Nikolay Gulyaev called the decisions of the IOC Executive Committee «double standards». He stated that Bach and his colleagues are well aware that the majority of Russian athletes are registered in various societies associated with the armed forces.
“We are still waiting for the decision of the International Skating Union. The IOC essentially didn’t say anything — they seem to be able, but it seems they can’t. Athletes from CSKA, Dynamo automatically go into the category that supports the special operation — well, what nonsense «Most of our athletes, you understand, belong to CSKA, the National Guard and Dynamo. Unfortunately, we don't have societies now, so the athletes must be registered somewhere. The IOC could not have been unaware of this, so this double standards, game — it seems we can allow it, but it seems not,» Gulyaev said.
The head of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR), Mikhail Mamiashvili, took time for the IOC decisions to fit in his head.
““ How can this be assessed? Unfortunately, based on the unprecedented pressure exerted by our “partners”, including the International Olympic Committee, it was difficult to imagine a different formulation of the IOC. But such a decision simply does not fit in my head, we must first comprehend everything,» Mamiashvili admitted in a conversation with .
Four-time Olympic champion in biathlon Alexander Tikhonov predicted a split within the IOC, calling the conditions put forward «headless».
“No one could make a more headless decision. IOC President Thomas Bach and the entire IOC Executive Board are all headless. The current leadership of the IOC is sick people. Do they want to make our athletes traitors to the Motherland? units, and we will have enough countries. The Americans bombed 34 countries, the Germans generally started the Great Patriotic War. They should not be allowed anywhere at all,» Tikhonov said. events, but expressed confidence that we must accept all conditions. In the opinion of a well-deserved figure skating coach, now is not the time for outrage.
“My opinion is that we must perform under any conditions. Without a flag, anthem, leadership, but athletes should have such an opportunity. Otherwise, we will simply lose our sport. with something to work with, and you have nothing to write about,» Tarasova said.
There were also those who saw positive aspects in the IOC's statements. Like, for example, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, convinced that Russia was met halfway.
“I don’t think that tennis players will be the only Russians in international competitions and the Olympics. There is a big problem only with team sports. My opinion is that the IOC has done step towards us. Tennis has an ideal history in general. The question was about other sports. Today, the IOC president gave the opportunity to participate in a neutral status. As for the story with the military, it seems to me that the ban applies to active officers, and not ordinary athletes. Another the question is whether this is right or not.It is unlikely that there will be a ban on those who simply train and play in CSKA and Dynamo,» Kafelnikov told our agency.