FIS with them - Newspaper Kommersant No. 176 (7377) of 09/23/2022

FIS with them - Newspaper Kommersant No. 176 (7377) of 09/23/2022



The International Ski Federation (FIS) has become the first major sports organization to allow the abandonment of "isolation" measures against Russian athletes. FIS Secretary General Michel Vion suggested that representatives of the Russian national team, who were suspended from participating in international competitions due to the military operation in Ukraine, would be able to return to them in the coming season and even compete at the World Championships. The Russian Ski Racing Federation (FLGR) and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) considered these words a “positive” sign, but it seems that there is still no talk of a trend reversal.

Michel Vion, Secretary General of the International Ski Federation, made a statement that caused quite a stir in Russian sports circles, for obvious reasons. Mr. Vion, speaking about the return to international competitions of athletes from Russia and Belarus suspended from participating in them, admitted that it, albeit in a neutral status, “maybe” already in December, that is, at the beginning of the next winter season. At the same time, the FIS Secretary General did not rule out the performance of the Russians at the World Ski Championships: it will be held from February 21 to March 5, 2023 in Slovenian Planica. Michel Vion, true, as the Norwegian edition points out VG, specified that the decision on the admission of Russians cannot be made without a “clear recommendation” from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It was his position formulated back in the spring about the need to apply tough sanctions against Russian sports that served as the basis for the “isolation” actions on the part of international federations. Until now, IOC President Thomas Bach has not made it clear that the organization is ready to revise it.

In any case, a rather remarkable event took place. FIS was the first major sports organization to at least hint at a desire to change its policy towards Russian athletes. And we are talking about an extremely important sport for Russia. In cross-country skiing, the most prominent of the FIS-curated genres, her team achieved tremendous success at the Beijing Olympics in February. Russian skiers won 11 out of 32 medals won by the entire team, including 4 out of 6 gold medals, and its leader Alexander Bolshunov became a hero of the Olympic Games, becoming their three-time champion.

The reaction of domestic sports functionaries to Michel Vion's statement was quite natural and predictable.

FLGR President Elena Vyalbe named him "RIA News" "a good sign", and the head of the ROC Stanislav Pozdnyakov included in the list of "positive steps in the direction that suits us." And the speech of Mr. Pozdnyakov at the ROC executive committee said that he was confident that the trend to "easing" will continue. “Russia is a big country, not only on the world map, but also in sports. This is beginning to be realized everywhere, including because of the financial losses of the competition, ”said, in particular, Mr. Pozdnyakov, who believes that in the summer events the situation can change for the better. In any case, the president of the ROC believes that “the majority” of Russian athletes will be able to take part in qualifying tournaments for the next Olympics: it will be held in Paris in 2024. Moreover, Stanislav Pozdnyakov described the scenario with the return of Russians to the international sports arena as “basic” or “preferred” for the IOC.

However, there are still no obvious signs that allow one to equate Michel Vion's statement with a turning point in a trend that is unpleasant for Russia. Suffice it to say that almost simultaneously with him, his Press release issued by the International Judo Federation (IJF). It refers to the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from participation in competitions until 2023. This decision was made "taking into account the current international situation" and in order to "ensure the protection of all athletes." The IJF until that moment was one of the few federations that refused to follow the recommendations of the IOC and did not interfere with the performances of Russians in their competitions.

Alexey Dospekhov



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