ROC is preparing for an unfavorable scenario with the 2024 Olympics

The 2024 Paris Olympics seem to have become even a little further away from Russian athletes in light of the statement by the President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov that he does not yet “potentially see” a single domestic Olympian, as well as the ROC’s decision on payments to honored athletes , who have been “illegally and unfairly” banned from international competition and are unlikely to be able to travel to the French capital next summer.

The results of Thursday’s meeting of the executive committee of the Russian Olympic Committee gave relevance to the scenario in which the Russian team will either perform at the next Summer Olympics in 2024 with an extremely truncated lineup, or even not compete at all. The International Olympic Committee, which in March sanctioned the abolition of the “isolation” regime regarding Russian athletes introduced after the start of a special military operation in Ukraine, has not yet decided on the format of its participation in it. Moreover, there is not even a deadline set for a verdict. However, judging by the statements made after the meeting of the executive committee by Stanislav Pozdnyakov, the ROC is inclined towards an option that is extremely unfavorable in this sense.

Speaking about plans for the Paris Olympics, Mr. Pozdnyakov said that “potentially he does not yet see a single Russian Olympian at the Games,” however, clarifying that he refrains from predicting the number of “individual,” “neutralized” athletes, of which, in his opinion, at best there will be a team. Stanislav Pozdnyakov calls “neutralized” those who fulfill the criteria stipulated by the IOC and international federations for performing at top competitions, including, say, refusal to actively support a special operation, as well as non-involvement in the armed forces of the Russian Federation or the country’s national security agencies.

The readiness of the ROC to allow the vast majority of the leaders of the Paris Olympics to pass is evidenced by the decision they made on compensation payments to honored athletes who were “unfairly and illegally” suspended from international competitions and will not be able to go to Paris. For holders of gold medals from previous Games, they amount to 500 thousand rubles, silver medalists – 350 thousand rubles, bronze medalists – 250 thousand, and just participants – 150 thousand.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov clarified that we are talking about those who “are actively involved, train, are active athletes and, according to our logic, are preparing.”

OCD, it must be said, has quite compelling reasons for such words and measures. Six months have passed since the IOC softened its “isolation” recommendations. But during this time, not all summer federations followed the new guidelines and allowed the return of Russians to the international arena, and such a large structure as the International Athletics Federation (World Athletics) was among those postponing it. Organizations that admit Russians without super-strict “filtration” or mass screening of stars, like the International Judo Federation (IJF) or the United World of Wrestling (UWW), look rather like exceptions to the rule. Others propose criteria that radically complicate obtaining neutral status and reduce the chances of qualifying for the Olympics.

Alexey Dospehov