Zakharova called the rules for admitting Russians to the Olympic Games unacceptable

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, considered the conditions for admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, which were put forward by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to be unfair. Mrs. Zakharova also considered the IOC’s call not to participate in the Friendship Games as a manifestation of neo-Nazism and racism.

“The decisions of the IOC are unlawful, unfair and unacceptable. We are outraged by the unprecedented discriminatory conditions imposed by the International Olympic Committee on Russian athletes who compete in an individual, so-called neutral status, who are actually forced to renounce any association with their Motherland, with their citizenship, with their history, culture, with their people.” , said Maria Zakharova during briefing.

March 19 IOC approved a ban on the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. For each athlete who competes under a neutral flag, a verification commission will be created.

IOC also admitted introduction of sanctions against foreign athletes who will participate in the Friendship Games in Russia. Now the IOC is only issuing a warning to athletes; the issue of possible sanctions will be discussed later.

“Absolutely unacceptable, not just politicized, but indeed standing on a par with decisions supported by racial discrimination, is the statement of the International Olympic Committee, which directly called on athletes and states to refuse to participate in the international competitions of the World Friendship Games. These decisions demonstrate how far the International Olympic Committee has deviated from its stated principles in favor of political expediency and slipped into racism and neo-Nazism,” said Ms. Zakharova.

Russian and Belarusian athletes will not take part in the team parade at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, as they are only allowed to compete in individual competitions. If they win, the award ceremony will take place under a specially prepared anthem without words and with a flag not related to the symbols of the countries.

Read more about how Russian sport is developing under conditions of isolation in the Kommersant article. “My own game”.

Delgir Mandzhieva