Athletistic / Others. Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin shared his opinion on the isolation of Russian athletes. Due to events in Ukraine, they were withdrawn from international competitions. According to Matytsin, the Russian authorities are ready to organize alternative competitions if necessary.

“In my understanding, sport has always been part of politics, since the birth of the Olympic movement, although officially athletes act as individual athletes. But through sport, athletes have demonstrated the stability of development and state power.

We strive to keep sport out of the influence of politics, and we will insist that these principles prevail in our community. The principles of sport should influence politics and be dominant – it is a game by the rules, respect for an opponent, the ability to play as a team, patriotism.

If politicians are guided by these principles, they will be more accountable. We should not be influenced by temporary political divisions. Russia behaves honestly and openly in dialogue with the whole community. The president says that we are not going anywhere and have relations with countries that want it, sport expresses the direction of national policy.

We look forward to victory in the future. The short-term perspective is the sanctions, all the international federations have done everything to prevent our athletes from competing. It is problematic to talk about the performance of our national team at the 2024 Olympics.

If we see that our athletes are not allowed in the Olympics, we will create international competitions in the country, but I don’t think this (isolation) will be long. International federations understand that by removing Russian sports from the international arena and depriving them of the possibility of organizing competitions, they are in fact shooting at their own feet. I am sure that we are waiting for a 100% strengthening of the national system”, quotes Matytsina CASS.