“If a valid alternative to the Olympic Games is offered in Russia, any Russian athlete will agree to participate” – Olympic champion Golyadkina

Olympic synchronized swimming champion Marina Goliadkina on the air of the program “There is a theme!” on announced that Russian athletes will support competitions initiated by the Russian Federation, alternatives to the Olympic Games, if the strongest athletes participate in them.

– For more than 20 years, athletes have been preparing for competitions. Any opportunity to perform in the Olympics is necessary for any true athlete to compete. If a valid alternative for athletes is offered in Russia, I think any Russian athlete will agree with that. Because the state supports us throughout our careers, and we defend our country. We have to compete with the strongest so as not to lose our level. We have to invite the strongest countries,” Golyadkina told .

Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that it would consider the possibility of admitting Russian and Belarusian athletes to world starts in a neutral status, who have not actively supported the OSV. IOC chief Thomas Bach admitted that Russians could participate in the Paris Olympics without national symbols.

On February 2, the committee noted that this matter had not yet been discussed and that the organization still did not have criteria according to which individual admission to competitions could be made. The IOC also later said that the European Parliament’s resolution, condemning the possible participation of Russian athletes in the 2024 Olympics under a neutral flag, is contrary to the unifying mission of the Games.

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11.