“Russia absolutely must go to the Olympics, even if our national symbols are banned” – Navka

Russians should go to the Olympics, even if national symbols are banned, the dream cannot be taken away from the athletes, says the 2006 Olympic champion in ice dancing Tatyana Navka .

– We absolutely have to go to the Olympic Games, even if our national symbols are prohibited. It is easy to say that in such conditions, it is impossible for those who have never practiced professional sport and who have not lived the dream of an Olympic medal to go there.

Of course, it is very sad that our flag is not raised and the anthem is not played – every athlete has dreamed of this since childhood. But to deprive an athlete of the opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games, you cannot take away a dream from him. If you have the opportunity to participate in the Olympics, you should definitely take this opportunity, Navka told Sport24.

In March, the IOC executive committee recommended that international federations, if Russians are allowed to start, do so individually, in a neutral status, without participating in team events, and also exclude the participation of athletes associated with law enforcement. In July, the IOC announced that it would not issue invitations to the National Olympic Committees of Russia and Belarus for the 2024 Olympics on the set date of July 26.

The Paris Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Sport24