- Russian, Belarusian athletes compete as neutrals
- Russia’s artistic swimmers banned, criticized IOC
- Moscow condemns conditions as discriminatory
Last year, the International Olympic Committee declared that individual Russian and Belarusian athletes who qualified for the Olympics might compete, but only as neutrals.
In terms of artistic swimming, Russia is an Olympic superpower. For the past six games, the national team has won every single event, both team and duet.
However, they will not return home with any gold medals from Paris. Russia has been sanctioned as a nation following its invasion of Ukraine.
Mayya Doroshko would have been on the team in Paris if Russia had been permitted to compete.
She called their absence “disgusting” and “inhuman” and said that it had left “a hole in my soul.”
“I’m very disappointed because I’ve been working toward the Olympics all my life,” she added.
It’s the top award in my sport; I was climbing a mountain but was shoved down.
But who is she blaming? Not Russia.
The 25-year-old said that the International Olympic Committee was behind everything.
Despite the ban, some Russian athletes will compete in Paris as neutrals, minus the national flag and anthem.
But first, they had to be screened to ensure they did not support the Ukrainian war and had no military affiliations.
Moscow has condemned the conditions, branding them as racist. Some officials have alleged that it is a scheme to exclude Russia’s main competitors.
Olga Brusnikina, president of the Russian Artistic Swimming Federation, stated that these requirements contradict the Olympic movement’s most essential principle: the athletic ideal of unconditional selection.
We can all see that there are several conflicts taking place around the world, yet for some reason, only Russian athletes were subjected to these penalties.
As a team sport, artistic swimmers were not allowed to participate as neutrals. In other categories, however, 36 Russians were granted permission to compete.
Several athletes, however, turned down their invites as officials from sports such as judo and wrestling criticized the terms.
Ultimately, only 15 Russian athletes, including tennis player Daniil Medvedev, will compete in Paris.
However, they have faced criticism at home for doing so. The head of Russia’s Olympic Committee referred to them as foreign operatives.
In contrast, individuals who are not competing have received financial compensation. The first time in 40 years, the Olympics will not be carried on local television.
Russia is attempting to transform this restriction into a boycott by portraying it as an act of hostility by the West.
Russian teams can still compete internationally, albeit in a different format.
Earlier this month, Moscow’s Moskvich Stadium held the first-ever women’s football friendly between Russia and North Korea.
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Pyongyang’s envoy to Russia was the guest of honor, and numerous North Koreans waved flags in the stands to support their team.
However, it was barely an alternative to Paris 2024. And pretending the Games do not exist is difficult when the stadium is designed to resemble the Olympic rings.
“Of course, I think it’s bad,” Dmitry said when asked about the ban.
We have an entire generation without games influencing the youth.
I desperately want to compete in international tournaments. Christina, who is on a youth football team, added. I hope the restrictions are lifted shortly.
It appears she may be disappointed.
