5th October 2022
The President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, was speaking to the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera. Some Russian winter athletes have already been called up to potentially fight in the war. NEW
“It’s about having athletes with a Russian passport who do not support the war back in competition,” said Thomas Bach.
“Here comes our dilemma – this war has not been started by the Russian athletes.
“We also have to see, and to study, to monitor, how and when we can come back to accomplish our mission to have everybody back again, under which format whatsoever.”
His remarks have been criticised in Moscow.
“Russian athletes are patriots and do not sell their homeland,” said the senior Russian politician, Dmitry Chernyshenko, who has responsibility for sport.
Chernyshenko was President and chief executive of Sochi 2014.
He had the Olympic Order removed by the International Olympic Committee following the Russian war against Ukraine.
Image © PlanetSKI
In the west some want to keep and extend Russian isolation in all spheres of life, including sport.
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Some Russian winter athletes have been called up potentially to fight against Ukraine.
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Aliev is a double European men’s singles medalist.
He took silver in 2018 and gold in 2020.
He won bronze at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics.
The call-ups come after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation of troops for his war against Ukraine.
The Russian Snowboard Federation has said two unnamed snowboarders have been asked to attend the military registration and enlistment office.
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This article was originally published by Planetski.eu. Read the original article here.
