MOSCOW, February 26, Oleg Bogatov. Conditions of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the participation of Russians in the Olympic Games in Paris aim to create a split between Russian athletes and within the federations, since the selection conditions are unequal, said former Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov.
Kolobkov said on Monday that the IOC is creating a situation in which it will issue personal invitations only to certain admitted Russians. The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) previously stated that the IOC may introduce additional selection parameters for Russians wishing to compete at the Games in a neutral status. It is emphasized that agreement with the current requirements of the IOC may lead to a violation of the laws of the Russian Federation. Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin said on Sunday that Vladimir Putin instructed the Ministry of Sports and ROC to develop proposals for the participation of athletes in the 2024 Olympics. The games will take place from July 26 to August 11.
«»The requirements published by the IOC create a split within the federations and national teams of Russia. How can you invite one athlete and not invite another from CSKA or Dynamo, although he may be stronger? In fact, the split is aimed at all Russian sports. After all, for example, in fencing, Olympic champions Sofia Velikaya and Sofia Pozdnyakova were not allowed to qualify. They invite weaker ones, which, of course, creates some discord in the teams. And it looks extremely ugly,» Kolobkov said.
“»I don’t know how many invitations the IOC will send. But the fact that some athletes will clearly not be very famous in the country is a fact. This is a kind of sop to Russia. The IOC puts on a pretty face when playing poorly. It shows that supposedly defends the rights of athletes and allows them, but at the same time completely violates these rights,” added the former Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation.
On December 8, the IOC announced the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Games in Paris in an individual neutral status, subject to a number of criteria. However, neutral athletes and their personnel must refrain from any activity related to the national flag, anthem, emblem or any other symbol of the Russian Federation, national federations or Olympic committees, as well as from supporting the CBO at any official event or in the media before, during and after the Olympic Games.