Tatyana Kiriyenko, secretary general of the Russian Boxing Federation, said that when it comes to a possible performance at the Olympics, the first thing to think about is the athletes.
Last week, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it would consider admitting neutral Russian and Belarusian athletes who do not actively support the IOC to world starts. IOC chief Thomas Bach has admitted that the Russians could participate in the Paris Olympics in a neutral status. The International Boxing Association (IBA) in the fall of 2022 allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete without any restrictions.
– Was the topic of the performance of Russian athletes at international competitions under a neutral flag discussed at the All-Russian Boxing Forum?
“We had a very busy schedule. We, our regions, champions, are interested in our presence and the competitive moment – if we will participate in the Olympic Games. We are taking many steps in this direction, including in coordination with the international federations.
When it was said that Russian athletes could go, but in a neutral status, questions were asked: “Will boxers go under such circumstances? However, this question was not raised. Yes, it’s unpleasant for us, we are real patriots. But above all, we care about the athletes. They are our number one priority. If we talk about ambitions, that we will not go … We must think of athletes. We train, our boxers perform at the IBA international tournament in Morocco under the Russian flag, – a correspondent reports Kiriyenko’s words.
— Are international competitions possible on the territory of Russia?
“Now everything is difficult for a number of reasons. The most important thing is to work and reflect. We have a busy year ahead of us. But it is not yet possible to host the European or World Championships. We have to stick together and keep working. Everything is ahead.
Watch live broadcasts of boxing evenings at tournaments in 2023 on the federal channel and thematic channels of the holding, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
