MOSCOW, February 12, Svetlana Bonopartova. American boxer Kevin Johnson , who received Russian citizenship, said that Russian athletes are the strongest in the world.
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the admission of Russians and Belarusians to the Olympics in an individual neutral status subject to a number of criteria. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that on the issue of Russian participation in the Olympics in Paris, one must be guided by the interests of the athletes, the decision remains theirs. At the same time, the head of state noted that if there is an infringement of the rights of athletes from the sports societies CSKA and Dynamo, then the Ministry of Sports and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) must make a “balanced decision.”
“»The whole situation sucks! Unfortunately, Russian athletes have to accept the conditions that exist now. Not everyone will be able to go there (to Paris), but the part that is selected will do everything that depends on them. Russian athletes the strongest in the world,» Johnson said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on January 9 accepting Johnson as Russian citizen.