– Although it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, this is of the greatest importance for the Olympic movement, says Susanne Lyons to The Wall Street Journal. She is the head of the US Olympic Committee, which was present at the Olympic Summit at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) premises in Switzerland on Friday. There were also the Russian and Chinese committees, as well as the International Swimming Federation and the International Gymnastics Federation. At this meeting, it was agreed to work for Russian participation in the Olympics in Paris in 2024, but with a ban on the Russian colors and flag, writes The Wall Street Journal. THUMBS UP: Susanne Lyons, head of the US Olympic Committee, opens up for Russian participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: Mark Schiefelbein / AP Problem solved? Athletes from Russia and Belarus have been banned by the IOC since February, but IOC President Thomas Bach already stepped out in September and opened the door for athletes who do not support the war to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Russian cross-country skier Veronika Stepanova, who has become known for expressing himself politically via his channels on social media, has caught on to the US’s new position. “As far as I understand, the problem is solved on all levels: Russia joins the Asian Olympic Council, the IOC allows Russian teams to the 2024/26 Olympics, the organizers are in favor, even the Americans don’t seem to have anything against it,” she writes. Instagram. Stepanova has previously railed against the IOC’s proposal that Russian athletes must distance themselves from the regime in order to compete in the Olympics. PUTIN-FRIEND: Veronika Stepanova smiles with the Russian president earlier this year. Photo: Vladimir Astapkovich / AP Ban on Russian colors and flag Russian athletes were banned from competing with the Russian flag in the previous two Olympic Games in Tokyo and Beijing. The reason was a doping penalty from WADA in 2019. The Russian athletes therefore competed under a neutral flag and the name ROC (Russian Olympic Committee). The Russian colors, on the other hand, were not forbidden, and the Olympic collection for Russia made headlines before the Olympics in Tokyo. CAPTAIN BOLSHUNOV: Cross-country runner Aleksandr Bolshunov was promoted to captain in Vladimir Putin’s army during the Beijing Olympics. Photo: Jae C. Hong / AP – We strongly oppose the country’s colors returning to competition, given that the Russian government is under heavy sanctions, says Lyons. She also says that the need for the measures are not the same: – The catalyst for this is still present, which is obviously the invasion of Ukraine, but the specific security of athletes the same as it was. OLYMPIC WINNERS: and Andrei Rublev represented the Russian Olympic Committee when they took Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021. Unlike other athletes, Russian tennis players have been allowed to play in major tournaments this year. Photo: Seth Wenig / AP – Unacceptable news’s sports commentator, Jan Petter Saltvedt, says that Russian participation has never been closer. – Now there are no obstacles left. When the big nations say yes, then the small nations can only protest as much as they want, says Saltvedt and continues: – This is completely the opposite of what the Norwegian Sports Confederation has set as its position. I hope they maintain the same position, which is to keep Russian and Belarusian participants banned. And they do: – It is unacceptable to open up Russian and Belarusian sports participation internationally, says Norway’s sports president, Berit Kjøll. UNACCEPTABLE: The sports president believes it is unacceptable to allow Russian and Belarusian sports participation. Photo: Håkon Mosvold The Sports Board made a decision on 26 February this year calling for the banning of Russian and Belarusian athletes, sports leaders and union representatives from international sports. The decision was followed up in a joint Nordic sports leaders’ meeting which included all the Olympic and Paralympic committees and sports federations throughout the Nordic region. The sports board stands by previous decisions. “The war against Ukraine is a clear violation of international law and creates a dangerous international security situation, with serious consequences for sport as well. Top sport is important for those in power in Russia and Belarus,” says a statement from the Norwegian Sports Confederation’s leadership meeting on 19 November. Who will decide where the border is? Kristin Kloster Aasen, Norway’s IOC representative, was not present at the Olympic Summit meeting itself, but was at another meeting earlier this month where the same issue was discussed. – The main principle is that sport is free and autonomous, and that authorities and countries should not be able to decide who can participate and who cannot. It is also important to clarify that the sanctions that were introduced against the Russian and Belarusian authorities are permanent, says Aasen and continues: – For the Olympic movement, it is difficult to envisage a lasting solution where athletes from two nations are kept out of sports. IOC REPRESENTATIVE: Kristin Kloster Aasen believes that sport is an arena for dialogue, peace and reconciliation. Photo: Terje P She points out that what was discussed at the Olympic Summit is not a finished proposal, but an approach, which must be further anchored in by several bodies. She also emphasizes that the condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is still unison. – It was far-fetched to recommend banning Russian and Belarusian athletes as well. The easiest thing might now have been to keep saying no, but that sets a precedent for the future. Who will decide where the border goes?, asks the IOC representative. – It has not always been easy to get athletes from countries in conflict to compete with each other, but history shows that efforts to make it happen help to fulfill our ambition of global participation. And in that sense creates an arena for dialogue, peace and reconciliation, says Aasen. The IOC representative points out that possible participation presupposes that both the Olympic Charter and the fixed sanctions are respected. Saltvedt does not buy that explanation. – The only thing the IOC should think about is the Ukrainian athletes who do not have the opportunity to participate because their country is invaded by Russia. I see no development in the war that suggests that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to enter the heat again.
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The USA is turning around on Russian participation in the Olympics – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcast schedule
