The International Olympic Committee, IOC, last month opened the door for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
- It is clear that Putin and Russia would perceive this as a deviation from the sanctions.
That you begin to ease the sanctions in the sports area and then the economic and political sanctions also fall, says Jakob Hedenskog, analyst Center for Eastern European Studies, and continues:
- We can remember, for example, South Africa, which was exposed to UN sanctions for a long time and excluded from international sports participation.
Many testified that it was the really difficult thing, it was easier to bear financial sanctions while it was tougher for many with sporting sanctions, Jakob Hedenskog.
Do you think Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed in?
- It is a pure guess, but in the long run it will be difficult to withstand the pressure in the field of sports and that you then choose to let individual athletes into certain sports and events to begin with.
The risk is that Russia perceives it as an easing of sanctions pressure.
"Sports are part of his big goal"
The IOC's decision has been met with criticism and athletes and nations have opened for boycott of the championship.
Jakob Hedenskog believes that sport means a lot to Russia and its President Vladimir Putin.
- Few presidents have such a sporting background as Putin as a judo athlete.
Sports are part of building his big goal: Russia as a great power.
That is the most important thing for his foreign policy.
Russia has hosted major sporting events such as the Olympics and the World Cup, which only superpowers can do.