2023-07-28 14:00:15
Russian Olympic Committee chief Stanislav Pozdnyakov on Friday accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of acting ‘in the interest’ of Ukraine, after the IOC called for showing ‘sensitivity’ with athletes Ukrainians. “The IOC (…) took sides in a political conflict, began to act in the interests of this party,” lamented Stanislav Pozdniakov in a statement published on Telegram.
This Thursday, a Ukrainian saber, Olga Kharlan, was disqualified, as provided for in the rules, after refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent, Anna Smirnova, during the World Fencing Championships. The decision was supported by the Russian delegation and denounced by kyiv. In the process, the IOC nevertheless called for showing “sensitivity” with regard to Ukrainian athletes.
No invitations for Russia and Belarus
However, according to the head of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdniakov, these remarks illustrate “the duplicity of the so-called international recommendations”. According to him, the reaction of the IOC showed “the attitude that absolutely any Russian will (from now on) face during international competitions”. He once again accused the IOC of having accepted “Russophobic demands” from kyiv in recent months.
On Wednesday, IOC President Thomas Bach did not send official invitations for the Paris Olympics to Russia, Belarus and Guatemala. A new symbol which proves that the situation is not yet clear as to the participation of these delegations, this invitation being a formality in normal times.
« Discrimination, double et triple standards »
The same day, Ukraine nevertheless authorized its athletes to face Russian or Belarusian athletes, provided that the latter compete under a neutral banner, which the IOC recommends. Previously, Ukrainians were purely and simply banned from taking part in competitions where Russian or Belarusian nationals lined up, with the exception of tennis where players compete individually.
“Discrimination, double and triple standards, violation of not only legal, but now also moral and ethical foundations to promote the (Ukrainian) position! Are these the new unwritten principles of the international Olympic movement? asked Stanislav Pozdniakov. According to him, Russia still does not know “under what conditions” Russian athletes will be able to participate in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, one year from the planetary event.
#Russian #Olympic #Committee #chief #accuses #IOC #discrimination