Former Russian national hockey player Ilya Kovalchuk In an interview with , he called for support for Russian athletes who will compete in neutral status at the Paris Olympics.
In February 2022, the IOC recommended that sports federations not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in international tournaments. Later, the recommendations were softened, and in December 2023, IOC chief Thomas Bach said that the organization would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who had passed the selection process to the 2024 Summer Games in an individual neutral status. The athletes will be able to perform in Paris without a flag, anthem, or other national symbols.
15 Russian athletes will perform in the French capital in neutral status.
“The fact that they didn’t let us in is absurd.” This has already been discussed a lot. This is a unique injustice. And those who made this decision will regret it. Ruining the careers of young boys and girls when they are at their peak and their sporting age is very small – they were deprived of the opportunity to compete for their dreams. It’s very ugly. Besides, some of them are even minors. And they don’t even have the right to vote.
If we talk about the guys who went to the Olympics, I know that opinions are divided. But I myself was in this situation when we went to Korea in 2018, where we won the Olympics. We also played without a flag and an anthem. But as we said then, Russia and its flag are in our hearts. And I think that all these guys who are going to play now, we are obliged to support them. I will definitely support Daniil Medvedev in tennis. And for all the guys who reached the Olympics. There is also rowing, trampoline, swimming and cycling.
Good luck to everyone and do not listen to what is happening around you. Unfortunately or fortunately, there are now a huge number of networks that broadcast any information. For the most part, it is implausible. I am sure that 99 percent of the inhabitants of our wonderful homeland will worry and support our athletes. And if, God willing, someone wins, we will honor him as Olympic champions, “Kovalchuk told .
The Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11.
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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.
