"Many countries oppose": the IOC next week will hold consultations on the removal of the Russians

The next week can be crucial for the national sport.

The IOC said it would hold a series of discussions with "interested parties" about the restrictions imposed on Russia.

The organization called them "part of regular consultations" with members of the Olympic Movement.

Earlier, information appeared in the media that their total, perhaps, would be the easing of restrictions on the participation of athletes in competitions.

Allegedly, IOC President Thomas Bach will discuss the topic online with the heads of international federations.

It is especially important that this will happen a couple of months before the start of the new season in winter events.

At the same time, just a few days ago, IOC communications director Mark Adams, after one of the meetings of the executive committee, said that “protective measures” still remain in force.

In particular, the flags of Russia and other symbols of the country should not be raised at tournaments, and competitions cannot be held on its territory.

But the official made another curious statement, which actually went against the Olympic Charter.

He acknowledged that the IOC had recommended a ban on the participation of athletes on a national basis, explaining this as a defense against a threat to the integrity of the competition.

“The measures were taken as the governments of different countries began to interfere in the area of ​​​​responsibility of sports federations regarding who can take part ... To prevent the politicization of tournaments, we have taken protective measures.

Since we are currently unable to fulfill our humanitarian mission to unite the sports world, in order to protect it in the future, we were forced to recommend the non-participation of athletes only because of their nationality, ”R-Sport quotes Adams.

And in some federations, they are not yet set on the return of Russia, and this applies even to those sports in which it plays a significant role, for example, in hockey.

Thus, according to IIHF board member Viesturs Koziols, discussions regarding the removal of restrictions are underway, but this will not be done until some convincing safe conditions for the participation of athletes appear.

This is fully consistent with the position of Bach, who also explained the recommendations to remove the Russians and Belarusians by concern for their safety.

However, many in Russia do not expect the imminent lifting of sanctions.

For example, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Peskov, announced the need to create a system of domestic competitions that could compensate for the absence of international ones, with the involvement of those foreigners who wish to come.

“Discriminatory measures against our elite sport, introduced including by the IOC, is a reality that we have to face.

And this is a big problem for athletes who, unfortunately, cannot maintain their form at the proper level.

This imposes on the state, on the relevant departments, primarily the Ministry of Sports, an additional burden and a special responsibility to compensate for the absence of these international tournaments,” Peskov said.

Separately, he spoke about the problem of changing sports citizenship by some domestic athletes.

The press secretary did not condemn them and cited as an example his own wife, Olympic figure skating champion Tatyana Navka, who began her career as part of the Belarusian national team.

“I am hardly competent to give any assessment.

I can only say that, from my point of view, there is nothing wrong with this, the athlete must be realized, ”added Peskov.

Nevertheless, despite the creation of a system of internal tournaments, the leadership of Russian sports does not leave hope for a return.

This is especially true for representatives of winter species, in which the new season will begin very soon.

So, the head of the Russian Biathlon Union (RBU) Viktor Maigurov sent a letter to the international federation demanding to allow the Russians to the stages of the World Cup and the IBU Cup.

The functionary recalled that in early September, Andrei Rublev and Karen Khachanov reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, and this did not interfere with the development of the sport.

He called the ban on participation in competitions for domestic biathletes violating the Olympic Charter.

“On the one hand, we dispute the legal status of those verdicts that were passed against us.

On the other hand, we want to say that the leaders of the IBU should first of all think about the athletes whose fate they are preparing to decide.

It is the athletes who suffer, although they are in no way connected with what is happening in the world, ”said Maygurov.

The coach of the Russian national skiing team Yuri Borodavko reacted even more soberly to what was happening, assessing the chances of participating in the stages of the World Cup as extremely small.

He also expressed bewilderment that the IOC actually recognized the suspension on a national basis.

According to the former head coach of the Russian men's biathlon team Vladimir Alikin, the sanctions will be lifted only after the end of the special operation in Ukraine.

“Further, the International Olympic Committee will return to this issue.

You need to understand that they do not make decisions themselves, but are waiting for a call from above.

But there is no need to wait for sudden changes for the better.

Believe me, they will come crawling to us.

Everything will be different.

And the way they behave now does not climb into any gates.

People dance to the tune of the United States.

You look and you are just surprised, ”said the RT specialist.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that even if athletes are allowed to compete, they will have to face the most severe psychological pressure, and it will not be easy to give results in such conditions.

“The IBU might have returned the Russians, but you can see how the situation is developing.

Now some countries are actually closing Schengen to Russian citizens.

The Baltic countries and Poland have already introduced an entry ban for athletes.

And how to be in such a situation?

You can’t perform in such a way that some managed to go to the competition, while others stayed at home.

This is a very serious problem.

There was a complete Russophobia.

It will be difficult for our athletes to perform in such an atmosphere, ”added Alikin.

In turn, Olympic medalist in cross-country skiing Maxim Vylegzhanin, although he admitted that he was trying to believe in the best, urged to treat what is happening without too much optimism.

“I would like sport to always remain outside of politics, and the issue of the removal of domestic athletes be resolved.

And this applies not only to representatives of winter species, but also summer ones.

It remains to hope and believe in the best.

But to be realistic, we understand that many countries oppose this.

In terms of ski events, the FIS initially allowed the Russians to compete in neutral status.

But representatives of other teams spoke negatively.

Letters were sent to the federation, and she had to give in, ”Vylegzhanin recalled.