NHL club Carolina defender Dmitri Orlov told that he wished the Russian athletes who will participate in the Paris Olympics good luck and hoped that they would succeed.
In February 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that sports federations not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in international tournaments. Later, the recommendations were relaxed, and in late 2023, the IOC announced the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes who had successfully passed the selection to the 2024 Olympic Games in an individual neutral status.
— The Olympic Games begin in Paris in July. And the attitude towards athletes who go there with a neutral status is changing.
— I understand that it will not be easy for the guys to play. And if we take team sports, we have earnings in the big leagues. But in individual events, they do not receive much money. But they have a goal: to get to the Olympics and win medals.
I can’t even imagine how it could be. It will be very difficult for the guys! Not even physically, but psychologically. You are constantly under pressure, waiting. Some are allowed in, others are not, everything changes every day.
Of course, our athletes need support. I want to wish them good luck so that everything goes well for them.
— Do you feel sad because the NHL team was unable to participate in two Olympic Games?
– Definitely! And this is a very strong melancholy. I have never participated in the Olympics. I would really like to play there. I hope it will happen to me, “Orlov told .
The Games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11.
Orlov joined the Hurricanes last summer on a two-year deal. In his first season with the team, the defenseman played 82 regular season games, scoring 26 points (6+20) with a utility rating of +4. In 11 playoff games, he added 6 points (2+4).
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
