Putin: Russia will return to full formats of performances in sports

Russia will return to full-fledged formats of performances in sports, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Education and Sports.

Putin emphasized that the performances of Russian athletes are always full. “Towards full-fledged formats [вернемся]“Of course, this will definitely happen,” he explained.

In his opinion, Russia needs to democratize sports and expand the layer of cooperation through clubs, leagues, etc. Putin urged not to be confined to those formats that “were captured at one time by people with our connivance.”

The head of state emphasized that sport, like art, should unite people, whereas now it is used to promote “narrowly selfish political interests.” “It will pass, 100%, this foam will fly off. Time is needed, of course,” the president said.

After the start of the special operation, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed to compete, but later announced a relaxation of measures and allowed athletes to participate in international competitions under a neutral flag. Restrictions will remain for those athletes who compete in team sports, as well as those who support the official position of the Russian and Belarusian authorities on Ukraine. The IOC promised to make a decision on the possibility of admitting Russians to the Olympic Games in Paris on a separate basis.

Earlier on October 19, at the opening of the “Russia – a Sports Power” forum in Perm, Putin statedthat the ban on the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions is an example of the use of the Olympic Games as a tool of ethnic discrimination.