Athletistic / Synchronized swimming. Russian synchronized swimmer Svetlana Romashina, seven-time Olympic champion, shared her opinion on the IOC conditions for the admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (France).
“Should Russian athletes accept the terms of the IOC? Now we have reached the most difficult and unpleasant questions… However, I understand perfectly well that they are part of our sporting life. “
Of course, I would like every athlete to have the opportunity to decide for themselves whether to go or not. It must be understood that the athlete sacrificed his entire childhood and youth to achieve such results. They didn’t really see anything other than sport. And, basically, they don’t know how to do anything else. Therefore, I probably wouldn’t want to deprive people of the opportunity to perform on stage. But there is another side to the coin.
I follow the fights between Dmitry Guberniev and Elena Valeryevna Vyalbe. The battles are ongoing, they are and will be. How many people – so many opinions. We can’t stop someone from thinking one way or another. The question is that of neutral status. What will the athlete have to sign to receive it? If it is essentially a waiver of my country, I will not sign it. But it’s my personal choice. People who remain in Russia today and are not trying to change their citizenship, I believe, have already chosen their position. They will stay here and represent their country, perhaps in other competitions. For me, signing certain declarations is unacceptable. If someone decides this is acceptable to them, that’s their choice. I have no right to judge anyone. Of course, I would like Russian athletes to participate in international competitions,” Romashina was quoted as saying by the Championship.
On March 28, following the results of the IOC executive committee, the head of the organization, Thomas Bach, clarified the conditions under which Russian and Belarusian athletes will be allowed to participate in international competitions. Among them, a clause appeared according to which athletes who have a contract with the Russian or Belarusian security services (army, police, national guard) have no right to be allowed to participate in international competitions.
Source: Sport
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