Deputy Minister Baysultanov: participation in the Olympic Games in a neutral status means abandonment of the country
Deputy Minister of Sports of Russia Odes Baysultanov spoke about the possibility of Russians competing at the 2024 Olympic Games only in a neutral status. His words are quoted by TASS.
Baysultanov condemned this condition, saying that Russians should not participate in the tournament. “We are talking about signing a declaration, but there is one element. It is forbidden to identify oneself with a country, only to act in a neutral status. This is a conceptual rejection of the state,” he explained.
Earlier on March 22, Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin spoke out against the boycott of the Games in Paris. He noted that it is impossible to skip the Olympic Games and force athletes who have qualified for the tournament to do so. “They won licenses and, according to the Olympic Charter, have the same rights as any other athlete,” Matytsin emphasized.
Last December, the International Olympic Committee allowed Russians to participate in the Games in Paris as individual neutral athletes. The organization added that they will not force Russians who want to compete at the 2024 Olympics to condemn the SVO.
At the same time, athletes who support a special operation in Ukraine, or who have connections with the armed forces or security agencies of Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to participate in the 2024 Games. In addition, representatives of team sports will miss the tournament.
Source: Lenta
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