Deputy Zhurova: only tennis players will be eligible for participation in the Olympic Games from Russia
Due to the specific requirements of the International Olympic Committee, only tennis players may be able to take part in the Olympic Games for Russia, State Duma deputy Svetlana Zhurova suggested in a conversation with Lenta.ru. She doubted that 50 athletes from Russia and Belarus would take part.
“The IOC says that 50 athletes from Russia and Belarus will be able to take part in the Olympics. But it seems to me that this statement was made, rather, in order to create a stir. I don’t see how this can be implemented. Because if we proceed from the criteria that were announced, then only tennis players will be able to participate,” the politician said.
She recalled that one of the IOC conditions for Russian athletes is the lack of funding from the state. Only tennis players whose tournaments are sponsored by sponsors meet this requirement.
“In addition, tennis players almost never live in Russia – this is the specificity of their sport: all competitions take place only abroad. And they really sponsor themselves. Theoretically, golfers could fit this criterion, but we don’t have athletes there. Representatives of other sports are selected from amateur competitions, and they receive funding from the state,” Zhurova explained.
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Earlier, the IOC said that Russians will have the same rights as other Olympians.
At the same time, the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said that Russian and Belarusian athletes would not be welcome at the Summer Games.
Source: Lenta
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