German Interior Minister Nancy Feser threatened Russian athletes with a refusal to issue visas if they were allowed to participate in international competitions. It is reported by RBC with reference to the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung.
“Countries hosting major sporting events are not powerless. You can control the admission of Russians to participate in tournaments through the issuance of visas, Feser noted. – If we organize international competitions in Germany, then we have the right to act in this way. We will always adhere to a clear position on this issue.”
At the same time, Fezer, who oversees sports issues, stressed that she opposes the boycott of competitions with the participation of Russians. “It will be detrimental to our athletes who have been working towards their goals for a long time,” she said.
On March 28, the IOC Executive Committee recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be allowed to participate in international competitions as neutral athletes. The recommendations do not apply to athletes who spoke out in support of the special operation and are associated with law enforcement agencies. The IOC also opposed the participation of Russians in team competitions.
A number of international federations followed the recommendations of the IOC. Some countries, including Germany, refused to host the stages of the Fencing World Cup with the participation of Russians. At the same time, more than ten teams refused to participate in the World Boxing Championship due to the presence of Russians.
Source: Rosbalt
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