Bach shot: why the IOC president spoke about the neutral status of Russia

The International Biathlon Union continues to “defend” from our athletes

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach called on the authorities of all countries to respect the autonomy of the Olympic movement and said that conflicts should be resisted, not intensified. The head of the IOC said this at the opening of the congress of the International Biathlon Union. The very one that, after these words, almost unanimously extended the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes. And then he could hang a sign on the doors of the meeting room: “Everyone left to seek autonomy.”

Of course, one cannot expect good news from the IBU these days. Back in March, the biathlon family was the first to rush to the aid of Thomas Bach after the recommendations of the IOC to prevent our athletes from participating in international competitions. Then the IBU suspended Russian and Belarusian biathletes from participating in competitions, and suspended the membership of the federations of both countries. Why would you want to suddenly reverse now?

Bach’s words could even be quoted as the words of the main peacemaker. They should, they say, set an example of confronting conflicts and the division of people, and not reinforce them. And “must be together to achieve our common mission.” Therefore, he calls on the authorities of all countries to support this “uniting mission of the world and respect the autonomy of the Olympic movement.” If not for one “but”: it would be nice to revive this autonomy, which has been killed more than once, to begin with.

Another head of the IOC reiterated what a few days earlier the official representative of the organization Mark Adams had prudently voiced – the recognition of the IOC in a dilemma. It is this: to abandon the “humanitarian mission that unites the whole world in competition” is impossible, and the only way to keep this mission is to recommend that athletes be excluded from competitions “based on their citizenship.”

The explanation for why the IOC went for it looks, to put it mildly, ridiculous: Russia and Belarus were removed, as the governments of the countries began to interfere in the affairs of the respective sports organizations, “deciding who to let into the country to participate in international competitions.” Yes, and “putting pressure on the national Olympic committees and athletes.” And this again violates the integrity and honesty of international competitions.

About the “heavy heart” during the adoption of “protective measures” of this very integrity, Bach later spoke, personally repeating the words about the removal “solely because of citizenship.”

By the way, in the recommendations of the IBU Executive Committee to the Congress on the extension of the suspension of the RRF, one of the options for the return of our athletes to international competitions was also proposed: to distance themselves from the conflict in Ukraine. RBU President Viktor Maigurov intends to send a request together with the head of the Belarusian Biathlon Union asking him to explain how it is imagined in the IBU.

In a speech before the IBU Congress, Thomas Bach said that he does not rule out the return of Russians and Belarusians to competitions under a neutral flag. What was that shot? Trial or for more ornateness. And did he hit the target? It is too early to judge whether Bach took a step towards withdrawing the IOC recommendations or went along the proven path, deciding to give everything at the mercy of the federations, relieving himself and the parent organization of responsibility for further events. The Olympic official is very vague.

And disputes about whether our athletes should or should not go to international starts under such conditions are premature, since there is no decision yet.

And yet a little bit about what could potentially be good after the IBU Congress under certain circumstances (after the speeches of Bach and the Olympic company, one has to speak in the same ornate way). The Executive Committee of the International Union, this provision was adopted at the Biathlon Congress. now has the power to impose or remove sanctions against national federations or specific individuals in emergency situations.

Why is it good? Congress is the highest body of any federation. The decisions it makes can only be overturned by the next congress, which the IBU will hold only two years later. And between congresses now the executive committee steers. And the IBU may maintain protective and preventive measures as long as the circumstances require it “in accordance with common sense”. Measures may be “waived in part or in full as soon as reasonably possible, taking into account evolving circumstances.”

The Executive Committee will discuss at the next meeting the issue of maintaining the World Cup quotas by Russian and Belarusian biathletes. The teams will miss the winter season, and this is the loss of quotas. At the moment, our athletes have five people for men and women.

No one cherished good hopes regarding the extension of the suspension of our biathletes. But, as the coach of the men’s team Yuri Kaminsky says, Russia has lost international starts, but you can use this time to prepare the reserve. “But it already depends on us – coaches, athletes, management – directly.”