Olympic ski relay champion Veronika Stepanova reacted to the statement by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach that Russian athletes can be sent back to international competitions, provided that they distance themselves from the special operation in Ukraine.
At the end of February, after the start of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine, the IOC’s executive committee recommended that international federations not allow Russians and Belarusians to compete under their auspices. Many federations followed the recommendations and suspended athletes from both countries, some allowed them to participate in a neutral status. Bach said in an interview with an Italian newspaper on Friday that Russian athletes who walked away from the situation should be able to compete under a neutral flag.
– Seriously?! Does Mr. Bach expect us to renounce and repent?
I look at a photo of Israeli athlete Avishag Semberg, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympic taekwondo tournament, being greeted by his commander-in-chief, IDF Chief of Staff General Aviv Kochavi.
Remind me how many anti-government and anti-war statements Avishag had to make before being allowed to compete internationally? Or is it somehow “another matter”?
To be clear, I have absolutely nothing against Avishag, who I believe should be allowed to compete without any restrictions or preconditions. The same should apply to us, Mr. Bach! — Stepanova wrote on the Telegram channel.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
