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There is just over a month left before the start of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. It is already clear that only a few dozen Russian athletes will be able to compete, who will undergo the process of obtaining neutral status and verification by a special commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As part of the All-Russian Olympic Day in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov answered several questions from a correspondent about the upcoming Games.
— Were you surprised by the exclusion of the strongest wrestlers and the entire taekwondo team? for the Games?
— The main goal of the conditions that the IOC put forward back in March last year and the sanctions imposed was to kick out our leading athletes. As a matter of fact, this is exactly what was done. We talked about this before, but it happened right on the eve of the Olympics. I don’t know why anyone had any illusions about this. It’s just that we are well informed, our relationship with the International Olympic Committee is quite close, so we understood perfectly well how it would all end.
— So this is farewell to illusions?
— Yes, unfortunately, one can say so. For those who were unfastened at the last moment, contrary to all sporting principles.
— There are currently 14 athletes on the list. There is an upper limit of 55 people. Have you estimated how many will be on the final list of the delegation?
— The Olympic delegation has always been headed by the Russian Olympic Committee. Due to IOC sanctions, there will be no delegation in Paris. And now the most important task for us is to support athletes who were unfairly excluded from these competitions.
— Discussion about whether to go to the Olympics has split the sports community. Are there conditions now to level out this split?
— I'm just sure that there is no split. As for our position, it has not changed.
— Do you continue to adhere to the point of view that we will go to the 2028 Olympics without restrictions?
— Yes, of course.
— It just sounds a little optimistic now.
— You know that even the largest historical events take place in the moment. I still believe that by this time all the conditions will have been created so that not only sports, but also everything connected with Russia will return to normal.
— Yulia Efimova went through incredible obstacles to get the right to compete at the Olympics. Can you understand such athletes?
— My task is to understand those athletes who were deprived of the right to take part in these competitions.
— Based on your words, you do not intend to follow the Games and their results.< br>
— In the absence of athletes from the Russian Olympic team, I am unlikely to follow the Games. They will definitely not be full-fledged, because Russian sports have been awarded hundreds of Olympic awards. I don’t know if any competition can be called complete without athletes who have historically won places on the podium.
— What advice would you give to Thomas Bach right now ?
— It’s difficult to advise anything. Both Thomas Bach and the International Olympic Committee are not independent in their decisions. I just want to wish you to be yourself. Unfortunately, the current IOC model is dependent on financial influence. Therefore, in fact, whoever pays for the music is the one who dances the girl.