In Russia, the world of sport has been weakened by the international sanctions that have been imposed in Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Russian athletes are already banned from the main world competitions, and the major events that were supposed to be held in the country have been rescheduled, like the finals of the football Champions League, which should have been held in Saint Petersburg in 2022 or the 2024 Olympics?

While the International Olympic Committee had hinted in January that reintegrating Russian and Belarusian athletes into world sport was possible, around thirty countries called for “clarifications” on the neutrality required of Russian athletes during the Olympics.

The neutrality of Russian athletes questioned

In a joint letter to the IOC in mid-February, these states, including France, Great Britain, Sweden, Poland, the United States and Canada, say to one another:very concerned about the feasibility for Russian and Belarusian Olympic athletes to compete as “”neutrals”” (…) while being funded and supported by their states“.

“Until these fundamental issues are addressed, as well as the atrocious lack of clarity and concrete details on the definition of “neutrality,” we will not accept that Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to return to competition.‘ say its signers.

This was announced by the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday.consider“the concerns expressed by these countries.

Russian athletes ready to compete under a neutral banner

If Moscow is firmly against the participation of Russian athletes under a neutral banner, some athletes who have been preparing for years are ready to accept this condition.

“The West wants us to reject these games ourselves“Laments Aleksey Yakimenko, Russian fencer with Olympic medals. “I think most athletes are willing to compete under a neutral banner” he said.

Continue reading

“This is understandable, because they put a lot of effort into training, some lose their health in the process. They want to prove to the world that they are among the best” he explains.

Russian athletes will have to wait for the decision of the International Olympic Committee, which is currently in process”detailed consultations” with the actors of Olympism.

However, the IOC has previously announced that athletes “fully respect the Olympic Charter“, so don’t have”actively supported the war in Ukraine‘ and comply with the World Anti-Doping Code.