Deputy Zhurova: Britain’s appeal to the sponsors of the Olympics to exclude Russians will not have an effect
Britain’s appeal to Olympic sponsors to influence the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to keep Russians out of the 2024 Games may not have any effect. This opinion was expressed by the Olympic champion, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Svetlana Zhurova in a conversation with Lenta.ru.
“The IOC has unequivocally said that the decision on the admission of the Russians has not yet been finally made. Why do we break spears that make no sense to break? Of course, you can invite sponsors, but I don’t think it will have any effect. On the other hand, they will demonstrate to their citizens with information that they have tried, are trying, and continue to pursue such a policy. Although it should not be in sports, ”the deputy explained.
This is absolutely political pressure on the IOC in this situation. Moreover, the IOC, which has not yet made any decision
As reported by The Guardian, citing a letter from the Minister of Culture, Media and Sports, Lucy Fraser, the British government has asked the largest sponsors of the Olympic Games to put pressure on the IOC to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing. Games partners include Coca-Cola, Intel, Samsung and Visa.
“Until our concerns and significant lack of clarity and specific details regarding a workable ‘neutrality’ model are resolved, we do not agree that Russian and Belarusian athletes should be allowed to compete,” the British minister said in a letter.
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Restrictions for Russians
The 2024 Summer Olympics will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. At the 2020 Tokyo Games, the Russians competed under a neutral flag due to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) sanctions against Russia. Under the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee, athletes also participated in the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games.
After the start of Russia’s special military operation on the territory of Ukraine, the IOC recommended that international federations remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions. Most of them supported the initiative.
On February 12, the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach, criticized the interference of politicians in the discussion on the admission of Russian athletes to the Olympics in Paris. At the same time, in December 2022, he stated that restrictions against Russians should remain in force.
Source: Lenta
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
