about 180 athletes from Russia can get to the Olympics – Kommersant

Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said that about 180 Russian athletes will be able to take part in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris if they qualify and the admission rules for them do not change. He stated this at a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the government.

“If our athletes successfully pass the qualifying tournaments and the conditions are not changed much, then the maximum number of participants from the Russian side in the Olympic Games will be about 180 athletes,” said Mr. Matytsin.

The minister believes that in this regard, it is necessary to continue the dialogue with international sports organizations and defend the interests of the Russian Federation with the support of friendly countries.

At the same time, Mr. Matytsin noted that the decision on the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games in Paris would be made no earlier than July 26, exactly one year before the start of the Paris Olympics.

March 28 International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in international competitions in a neutral status. At the same time, in the organization declaredthat the decision on the performance of the Russians at the Olympic Games will be made later.

According to IOC President Thomas Bach, athletes who “actively support” the military special operation will not be able to count on participation in international competitions. Moreover, he clarified that “active support” means not only “open solidarity” with the special operation, expressed, for example, in demonstrating the letter Z and statements on social networks, but also “belonging to the armed forces or national security agencies.”

The President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), Stanislav Pozdnyakov, called the recommendations put forward by the IOC “legally void”, warning that in response to them, the structure he leads will develop its own in May.

Read more about the reaction of the ROC to the recommendations of the IOC – in the material “Recommend does not mean return”.

Erdni Kagaltynov