“Athletes make their own decisions”: how the discussion around the possibility of participation of Russian tennis players in the Olympic Games is developing

“We are a single sports family, at this difficult moment it is necessary to unite”

Press Secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov spoke about the possible trip of domestic tennis players to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

“We proceed from what has already been said by the president several times: our athletes and the relevant federations themselves make the decision to participate in the Olympic Games. Each athlete determines his position, and, of course, together with all Russians, we will rejoice at the victories of our athletes, including tennis players, who honorably defend our flag, even when they compete without one. For us, they are still Russian tennis players, of whom we are proud,” R-Sport quotes Peskov as saying.

At the same time, earlier Putin, commenting on the possible participation of domestic athletes in the Games in France, complained that the actions of international sports officials had distorted the ideas of the Olympic movement.

“To go or not to go. <...> We must now carefully analyze what conditions the IOC puts forward. If these artificial conditions, politically motivated artificial conditions are aimed at cutting off our leaders, cutting off those athletes who claim gold, silver or bronze medals, cutting off power to our team... If the goal is to cut off our leaders and show that Russian sports is not developing or, on the contrary, is dying, then it is necessary for the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Russia to analyze and make an informed decision,” he noted.

In turn, Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin called for treating each other with respect and not allowing negative rhetoric towards Russians performing in the international arena.

“We are a single sports family, at this difficult moment it is necessary to unite and treat with respect those who, through their hard work, have won the right to compete at the Olympics,” he emphasized.

Regarding participation in the Olympic Games, Matytsin recalled: each athlete will make his own choice, and the ministry will support him in any case.

“After all, we know that these are our athletes, and they are going to the Games to defend not only their sporting honor, but also the honor of their native country, despite the discriminatory decisions of the IOC,” Matytsin added.

“Everyone knows what country our guys represent”

In general, the possible trip of Russians to the 2024 Olympics has recently caused serious controversy. Some people think that you need to go to France under any conditions. Others are sure: participation in the Games in compliance with all IOC criteria is tantamount to humiliation. The latter includes the head of the ROC Stanislav Pozdnyakov.

In particular, he criticized domestic tennis players who had the opportunity to play at the 2024 Olympic Games. In his opinion, they spend most of their time abroad, speaking out for themselves and condemning the policies of their country.

“So it’s more correct, from my point of view, “a team of foreign agents.” For whom there will definitely not be any obstacles to representing themselves at the Olympics. Moreover, individual Olympic entrepreneurship is now being actively promoted from Lausanne. I sincerely respect the achievements of the masters on the courts, but from a human and civil point of view, our approaches to the current situation are diametrically opposed,” the functionary wrote on the Telegram channel.

He was supported by the President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics (VFKhG) Irina Viner. She believes that domestic athletes are actually forced to abandon their homeland in order to participate in the Olympics.

“If there are no attributes, then there is no country; if there is no country, then these are people who should not have Russian citizenship. If they should not have Russian citizenship, then they are truly neutral, and this is where everything comes into conflict. I wouldn’t call them foreign agents, they are not foreign agents, but passive people who ultimately become supporters of the measures taken by the IOC,” explained Wiener.

The FTR responded to the words of the head of the ROC. The vice-president of the organization, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who himself became an Olympic champion in 2000 in Sydney, is sure that it is necessary to perform in Paris.

“In my opinion, we need to go. There are a huge number of fans who will root for and worry about our guys,” the manager suggested.

The tennis players were also supported in the State Duma. For example, deputy Svetlana Zhurova recalled that such athletes, from the point of view of current legislation, do not fall under the definition of foreign agents. She also considered their foreign earnings forced, since all tournaments are held in other countries.

“Of course, the guys themselves will make their own verdict about their performance at the Olympics. If Russia financed them, we could make claims and say: “How can you be individual athletes?” - Zhurova added.

The head of the Russian Wrestling Federation (FSBR), Mikhail Mamiashvili, also disagreed with Pozdnyakov. According to him, as soon as the final criteria for admission to the Olympic Games become known, everyone will have to make a personal choice.

“I am convinced that it is possible to make a balanced decision that does not humiliate anyone. Why discuss this now? May God grant us all to live to see the Olympics! In the meantime, international federations are holding qualifying competitions and obtaining licenses to travel to Paris,” the functionary emphasized.

And the honored tennis coach of Russia, Viktor Yanchuk, recalled: the ATP and WTA, unlike many other federations, did not introduce restrictions for political reasons and allowed domestic players to compete on an equal basis with others.

“Everyone knows what country our guys represent, we have good, strong masters who are capable of achieving success and glorifying our sport, as they have done for many years,” the Championship quotes the specialist.

Finally, the famous figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova believes that at the moment it’s already difficult for athletes.

“Why do they need to add from their own people, from their leaders? They are not involved in the fact that they were suspended, while they have a short sports life. What right do we have to condemn them? - she concluded.

“If there is an opportunity, I will gladly go to the Olympic Games”

The desire of leading Russian tennis players to go to the Olympics sparked a debate in the world of domestic sports. Daniil Medvedev and Daria Kasatkina announced this almost simultaneously.

“In life, every person has the right to his own opinion - just as I have the right to disagree with him. Everyone has their own reasons for thinking this way and not otherwise. For my part, I repeat: if there is an opportunity, I will go with pleasure,” Medvedev said in an interview with Sport-Express.

Kasatkina agreed with him, calling the Olympics an important event in her career.

“I’m very glad that we were allowed to see her. For me, the Olympic Games are a very important event. It so happened that I didn’t go to the last one, in Tokyo, for a number of reasons. But I want to play in Paris. If I qualify for it, I will perform without any questions,” she promised.

At the same time, the ITF, unlike other sports, has created the most comfortable conditions for Russians under the current circumstances. All of them will be able to perform in France in a neutral status. They also received admission in doubles and mixed doubles. And the rating of players who will qualify for the Olympic Games will be determined the day after the end of Roland Garros - June 10.