Russian athletes turned towards Asia – Sport – Kommersant

Russian athletes may soon be allowed to participate in international competitions. In particular, in the qualifying tournaments of the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. This follows from the decision taken today, December 9, at the Olympic summit. The scheme, generally approved by the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), provides that the Russians will not compete in the European qualifiers, as usual, but in the Asian qualifiers. At the same time, the sanctions as such will remain. That is, the Russians will have to act in a neutral status.

Russian athletes may soon return to participate in international competitions. Recallthat back in February, after the start of events in Ukraine, the IOC recommended that international sports federations not allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in competitions. Most international federations followed this recommendation.

It is noteworthy that the preservation of sanctions was confirmed today at the Olympic summit in Lausanne. IOC President Thomas Bach noted that it is not yet the time to lift the sanctions, which, in his opinion, are not a punishment, but a kind of “protective measure” that allows you to protect the Olympic movement from politics. The IOC also includes concern for the safety of Russians and Belarusians in Europe and North America in the concept of “protective measures”.

However, at the summit, a proposal was made by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), which was unanimously supported, according to which Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete in Asian competitions and through them qualify for participation in the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. Acting President of the OCA Randhir Singh said that the road to Asia is open to Russian and Belarusian athletes. “On the Asian continent, there are no more reasons for protective measures,” the IOC said in a statement following the summit. “The OCA has proposed to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in competitions in Asia under its auspices, while complying with existing sanctions. Representatives of international federations welcomed this initiative. At the same time, each federation must carefully evaluate for its sport whether it is necessary to use protective measures.

The IOC thus seems to have found a scheme that could, with the formal retention of sanctions (Russians and Belarusians still banned from competing under their own flag), still allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in the Games.

“The summit participants were unanimous that there were no grounds for further removal of athletes. This means that in the near future our athletes will be able to return to the international arena and compete in qualifying Olympic competitions. Yes, of course, for this it is necessary, at a minimum, that the IOC cancel the current recommendations, but the general content and direction of today’s discussion testify, in my opinion, to the victory of sports diplomacy and common sense, ”wrote Stanislav Pozdnyakov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). in his Telegram channel.

In turn, the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin noted that “The Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation highly appreciates the proposals of the Olympic Council of Asia.” “This initiative underlines our partnership with the countries of the Asian continent, aimed at the comprehensive development of the sports sector,” Mr. Matytsin said in a statement.

Arnold Kabanov