MOSCOW, April 6 Russian wrestlers will consider the possibility of participating in Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, said the head of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR) Mikhail Mamiashvili.
Earlier, the FSBR reported that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned freestyle wrestler Abdulrashid Sadulayev from participating in a tournament in Baku, where tickets to the Olympic Games will be played out. The United World of Wrestling (UWW) stated that Sadulaev was disqualified by the organization's wrestler selection committee due to information about supporting the SVO and belonging to Dynamo.
“The Russian Wrestling Federation fully supports the policy of the Russian President, and Russian wrestlers will consider the possibility of participating in the Olympic Games to prove that, despite all the difficulties, restrictions and sanctions, the medals of the main world sports forums will still go to the strongest power — Russia. But in order to make a decision on participation in the Olympic Games, you must first win the right to participate there on a sporting basis, which is what Russian wrestlers are doing today at a licensed tournament,” the FSBR website quotes Mamiashvili as saying.
“I want to emphasize that at the moment we are not talking about participation in the Olympics, but about winning the right to participate there. And Russian wrestlers, on a sports principle, are allowed to qualify and, on a sports principle, compete for the right to be among the participants in the main sporting event of the four-year period, and After this, we will make a decision whether to participate in the Games based on the criteria that will be proposed by the International Olympic Committee,” the functionary added.
The IOC allowed Russians to participate in the Games, which will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11, in an individual neutral status, subject to a number of criteria. A special flag and anthem have been approved for neutral athletes. Russians will not be allowed to participate in the parade of athletes at the opening ceremony, and their awards will not be displayed in the medal table. Due to restrictions on participation in qualifying competitions, a maximum of 55 Russian athletes will be able to qualify for the Games. Russian President Vladimir Putin previously said that “international officials are distorting the meaning of the Olympic movement and undermining the foundations of international sports.”