Double Olympic champion in saber fencing Sophia the Great said she had not given up hope of participating in the Paris Olympics, despite the withdrawal of Russian athletes from international competitions.
The executive committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended in February that federations prevent Russians and Belarusians from participating in competitions due to events in Ukraine. Many federations have followed these recommendations. In December, IOC chief Thomas Bach, following an executive committee meeting, said sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes should be extended.
— I am a positive person, so my confidence in my participation in the Games can only end in March 2023, because the selection will start in April. Until then, I believe the situation will be resolved and justice will be on our side, because sport is out of politics. Sport is a platform that unites the whole world and creates, no matter what, an oasis of peace and good.
To be honest, I watch the results of international tournaments, but I’ve never watched the fights. Judging by the results and the level, I don’t think they really miss us there. There is no stability as it was with us for many years. To grow, there has to be competition. The higher the competition we give, the higher their results will be.
Previously, I wasn’t interested in internal startups at all. She got all her points in international competitions. But recently there was a “Moscow Saber”. Believe me, it is in no way inferior to the World Championship in organization, intensity of passions. Fairly high level. If we continue to support this, we will develop our sport,” said Grand Sport24.
Earlier, the head of the executive committee of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), Suzanne Lyons, said that the United States Olympic Committee supports the participation of Russians and Belarusians in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but in a neutral status and without a national flag.
Sport24
Source : MatchTV
