President of the Russian Ski Racing Federation Elena Vyalbe does not believe that Russian athletes will be able to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, and the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach According to her, she did everything to ensure that Russians did not have the opportunity to participate in the Games.
At the end of 2022, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) suspended Russians and Belarusians from international competitions due to the situation in Ukraine.
— What is the atmosphere in the team currently? What is the attitude of skiers towards the lack of international departures?
– We are always ready to come back. But you know my conditions, the conditions of 99.9% of athletes. There should be equal conditions as other teams. I don’t think this will happen next year. I don’t even think in two or three years. It will be a very difficult recovery. There are many countries where the decision has been made at the government level not to invite Russians. The mayor of Trondheim, for example. I’m offended. We must understand that there is no need to humiliate ourselves in front of anyone. When your country or your participation in the World Cup is on the line, there should be no doubt about what you need to think about now.
We are all trying to ensure that the competition is played at the highest level. The only thing is you can’t force the fans to come. There are places with complex logistics, and there are accommodation problems. But everything that happened last year and this year was good. Yes, there are athletes who have lost money. But in all that is bad, we must seek the good and endure this test with honor and dignity. The IOC is now testing us for lice.
— 2025 World Championship?
– We will miss it. We will not return anywhere before 2028. And that is on the condition that the world changes.
— Do you think we will go to the 2026 Olympic Games?
— I really like Italy. But I don’t think anyone will invite us there.
Everyone talks about the conditions (for admission to international competitions). Bach did everything to prevent athletes from going to the Olympic Games. I don’t have any other athletes. “They all have working relationships with law enforcement,” reports a correspondent, according to Vyalba’s words.
The IOC announced in December 2023 that it would allow Russian athletes who successfully qualified for the 2024 Olympics to have individual neutral status without a flag, anthem or other national symbol. The IOC also banned the participation of athletes associated with security forces or who have expressed support for the SVO.
Source : MatchTV
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