“We have already gone to the Olympics without a flag, we are not used to it. Everyone will know they are Russians! —Tatiana Tarasova

Honored Coach of the USSR Tatyana Tarasova in a conversation with a correspondent, she said that Russians are not strangers to the idea of ​​​​going to the Olympics without a flag, but everyone will know that a Russian athlete is standing in front of them .

Earlier on Friday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said it would allow Russian athletes qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics to compete in individual neutral status.

— Congratulations to all of us! It’s good that the IOC can still make such humane decisions.

— Do you think that many athletes will arrive in the French capital?

— Well, from what I understand, everyone was allowed in, including the teams.

— For now, there is an explanation that only those who have passed the qualifications and are in a neutral status.

– Well, we’re going to go neutral, honestly, it’s difficult for me to guess in terms of quantity.

— How many people would agree to travel without a flag? We are starting a trend that traveling without it is bad.

“We’ve traveled without him before, we’re not used to it.” With or without a flag, everyone will know it’s a Russian athlete. This must also be understood. We love our flag, live under it and respect it, but this is how circumstances have evolved. We can start fighting for the flag and we will be disqualified again. Let our officials negotiate. If they don’t agree, we’ll leave without him. But everyone will know anyway that a Russian is standing in front of them! , Tarasova told .

Individual neutral athletes will be subject to strict eligibility rules for the 2024 Games. Athletes who supported a special military operation in Ukraine, as well as those contracted with national security agencies, will not be allowed to compete . Teams will also not be allowed.