The IOC recommended the return of Russia: without a flag, anthem, teams and conscripts
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The executive committee of the organization formulated the criteria for the admission of our athletes to international starts
In Lausanne, a meeting of the IOC Executive Committee was held, at which the issue of admitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions was discussed. President Thomas Bach called for the return of our athletes in a neutral status, and only individually, without teams. And he said that the IOC will not be able to find a solution that will satisfy everyone: “We may have to live with this.”
The IOC Executive Committee summed up the results of consultations on the status of Russians and Belarusians. In other words, made a decision what to do with our athletes? The IOC President, speaking, said that the organization would not be able to come up with a solution that would satisfy everyone. “We may have to live with that.”
Both the discussions and the meeting of the IOC Executive Board did not concern the participation of athletes in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris or the 2026 Olympics in Milan. Now we are only talking about entering international competitions, some of them are already qualifying for the summer Games in Paris.
The Executive Committee called on international organizations to come to the point where Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete as neutral athletes. Sanctions remain in force: our flag, anthem and other symbols will not be in competitions, officials cannot be invited to tournaments. Recommendations for a ban on holding international competitions on the territory of Russia have also been preserved.
The admission criteria have been announced: teams from Russia and Belarus cannot compete, only individual participation is possible.
Athletes who “actively supported” the SVO cannot be allowed to start, the same requirements for personnel. When considering the issue, participation in rallies, demonstration of symbols, public statements will be taken into account.
There will be no access for athletes who have a contract with military structures. “Contracted members of the Russian and Belarusian armed forces or security agencies are believed to be supporting the military action.” (And these are many of our leaders: Maria Lasitskene, Sergey Shubenkov, Sofya Velikaya, Yana Egoryan, Nikita Nagorny, Alexander Loginov, Alexander Bolshunov…)
Thomas Bach reaffirmed in Lausanne that the IOC reserves the right to decide the question of Russia’s participation in the Olympic Games “at the appropriate time.” And even if the athletes pass the selection according to the rules that the federation of their sport will put forward to them.
Bach once again spoke out very harshly against the intervention of governments in sports: issues of admission should be decided by sports organizations, starting from sports ratings, and not political reasons. “Currently there are about 70 regional conflicts. And the parties do not demand the exclusion of athletes from the enemy country and send their athletes to competitions.
What else sounded in Lausanne? Recognition that the participation of athletes with Russian and Belarusian passports in international competitions “works”. Thomas Bach stated that everyone sees this almost every day in a number of sports: tennis, cycling, hockey, handball, football and other leagues, both in the US and Europe and on other continents. And the governments in whose territory the tournaments are held give athletes visas (although there are rare exceptions), and even work permits.
Thomas Bach said that the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes a year ago was a “protective measure”. But the year showed that “in none of the competitions with the participation of Russia there were incidents related to the threat to the safety of athletes.” Bach said that the situation has changed, and if security is possible in some sports, it is possible in others.
The IOC will create a special body under the auspices of the federations of summer and winter sports to make decisions on the admission of Russians and Belarusians to competitions. The criteria will be the same for all sports.
Newspaper headline:
Without a flag, anthem, teams and military
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