MOSCOW, April 3, Vasily Bogdanov. Chairman of the State Duma Committee on physical culture and sports Dmitry Svishchev said that the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach should support the holding of the Friendship Games and come to them as an honorary guest.
Earlier, Bach, in a conversation with pranksters Vovan and Lexus, who played him in the role of an “African politician,” said that athletes from Africa, by taking part in the Friendship Games in Russia, are also putting their possible performance at future Olympics at risk.
«»If we talk about statements about the Friendship Games, they are surprising. From my point of view, the IOC President should support the holding of such competitions and even come to them as an honored guest. He speaks in a completely different way. Bach cannot do not understand that the state policy of Russia is to hold major tournaments during the period of suspension of our athletes. And nowhere is it written that we should somehow consult with the IOC. We want the athletes to be able to practice and compete. That’s why we are holding the Games BRICS, Games of the Future, Friendship Games, which in no way replace the Olympics. There is no political component here, so we did such competitions, are doing and will continue to do. But Bach made a strategic mistake with such a position,” said Svishchev.
The World Friendship Games will be held from September 15 to 29, 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg. They include competitions in 33 summer sports. The prize fund should be 4.6 billion rubles. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko previously stated that a large number of countries are showing interest in the Friendship Games and will take part in them, despite the IOC bans.