While Casper Ruud was preparing for his semi-final against German Alexander Zverev at the Roland-Garros facility in the west of Paris, an important meeting was taking place more centrally in the French capital. In the Élysée Palace, two presidents were in a conversation that could have a decisive impact on who gets to participate in next year’s summer games in the same city. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, received the Olympic president, Thomas Bach, for discussions on the way until the said games open with a spectacular ceremony on the Seine on Friday 26 July 2024. GUEST: Here are Bach (left) and Macron on his way out of the Élysée Palace on a previous occasion. Photo: Lewis Joly / AP Official presidential stamp This Thursday, the two men in suits agreed to maintain one important principle, namely that which concerns Olympic autonomy. In other words, the IOC themselves and only they must decide who can participate in their own games or not. In practice, whether Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate as so-called “neutral” or not. The many who had hoped for a tough and consistent line from Macron were therefore disappointed. Among them is definitely the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, who has repeatedly asked the French president directly to prevent any Russians from participating. Now Thomas Bach has the official presidential stamp on his cunning plan to include Russians in next year’s Games. Then it will take a lot to stop him. Because the forces are so strong – and unite in such a strangely effective way. DISAPPOINTED: Zelenskyj (left) has asked the French president to prevent Russian participation in the Olympics. Photo: Natacha Pisarenko / AP Inevitable mix-up Later that day, Bach met the Olympic refugee team and spoke again about his further plan. Russian and Belarusian athletes will participate. As neutral individual practitioners. “As you can see them here at Roland-Garros,” he concluded. There were several reasons why he referred 7 kilometers to the west in the capital. Not only has tennis throughout the war in Ukraine allowed Russian and Belarusian players to participate. With very few exceptions. And a kind of credo has formed that it works. APPEARED: Bach (bottom left) was in place for the final at Roland Garros, among famous guests such as Kylian Mbappé and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (back centre). Photo: CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / Reuters That is debatable at best. What is certain, however, is that it will continue. And it continues unchallenged by continued protests and markings by Ukrainian players. As was also seen in Paris. The IOC’s mantra is that sport and politics should not be mixed. With the war in Ukraine, it is of course inevitable. Nevertheless, the next best thing for the Olympic owners is that they can control the consequences of the political markings. The French Open showed that it is very much possible. Was booed because when Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka received several questions about her country’s involvement in the war at the press conferences after she had played matches, she simply did not appear the next two times it came up. Despite the fact that the players are obliged to sit, Sabalenka was not punished. Sabalenka has previously gone surprisingly far in criticizing the war her home country is a supporter of Russia in. Nevertheless, this was not enough for Ukrainian Elina Svitolina to thank Sabalenka for the match after their meeting in the quarter-finals. Something Svitolina has said she will not do with any Russian or Belarusian players anyway, even if they go against their authorities. Then came the reaction no one thought possible. As Svitolina expectantly ignored Sabalenka, thanked the umpire and left Court Philippe-Chatrier, sections of the French home crowd began booing the Ukrainian player, who was clearly surprised by the reaction. So important is formal politeness to the French public that it overshadows any sympathy for a war-torn people. It is no wonder that Thomas Bach traveled optimistically from Paris. WAVED: Just after the handshake that came to nothing, Sabalenka waved to the audience. Photo: LISI NIESNER / Reuters Controversies without consequences This year’s French Open had already also had its cunning diversionary maneuver, when the inflamed conflict in Kosovo caused the later tournament winner, Serbian Novak Djokovic, to put political issues at the center of the agenda already early in the tournament. “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia”, he wrote on the camera lens – and knew full well what noise it would cause. Djokovic has never been afraid of controversy. Not this time either. Safe in the knowledge that there would be no consequences for his further participation. No one dares to touch the sport’s biggest star in the quest to become unique in tennis history. And Djokovic obviously knew it well. Despite protests from both Kosovo’s Olympic committee and the French sports minister. The organizers explained that there was nothing in the Grand Slam regulations that allowed them to punish Djokovic for his statements. So everyone can say what they think. If they are Novak Djokovic. Or in theory a Russian regime supporter. CONTROVERSIAL: Djokovic said at a press conference that he stood by the statement about Kosovo. Photo: ANNA KURTH / AFP Open support for President Putin or the barbaric acts of war in Ukraine will still disqualify you from Olympic participation next year. The same goes for military affiliation. But the cherished hopes of Elina Svitolina and the other Ukrainian athletes to avoid facing their Russian and Belarusian rivals in next year’s Olympics are on the verge of disappearing altogether. Bach’s preferred illusion that protecting individual athletes is more important than the needs of the athletes from the country that has been invaded will live into next year’s Games. More and more Olympic sports allow neutral athletes. Which in reality is a pure betrayal of what should really be the Olympic ideals of peace. But which now also comes with the blessing of President Macron. “Coward news” The next big challenge for the world’s best tennis players is the Wimbledon tournament in London in July. Last year, the organizers went against their own federations and refused Russian and Belarusian players participation. They were punished, but stood by their commendable position of principle. One year later, they have also resigned, citing fears of lasting consequences for British tennis if further reprisals occur this year. Unfortunately. The major tennis federations have had their way. And not least the IOC has done it. Next year, Novak Djokovic will try to take the only thing he lacks in a glorious career, namely Olympic gold. In that case, the final opponent could quickly become the man who in 2021 prevented him from taking the first full Grand Slam of his career, i.e. winning all four of the biggest tournaments in one year, namely the Russian Daniil Medvedev. If the IOC and Thomas Bach get their way, Medvedev is one of those who will really get the chance to experience Olympic glory when the Games live out their new – and not insignificantly ironic – slogan: “Games wide open”. MAY MEET: Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. Photo: KARIM SAHIB / AFP
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