Double Olympic biathlon champion Olga Zaitseva told that she allowed provocations against Russian athletes at the Paris Olympics.
In February 2022, the IOC recommended that sports federations not allow Russians and Belarusians to participate in international tournaments. Later, the recommendations were softened, and in December 2023, IOC chief Thomas Bach said that the organization would allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who had passed the selection process to the 2024 Summer Games in an individual neutral status. Compliance with the selection criteria is confirmed by a special IOC commission.
— Do you support the Russians participating in the Olympic Games?
– Of course, I will be sick, these are our athletes. We participated in two Olympic Games in neutral status, we supported our guys!
– Some people call those who go there traitors…
– It is a double situation. You can call them that and offend them, or you can support them. It is a difficult situation; one cannot say unequivocally “yes, well done” or “no, bad”. Depending on education, condition, perception of reality.
– But you won’t call homeless those who become homeless?
– No, I won’t use those words.
— Don’t you consider our tennis players traitors?
— They train abroad. Basically, licenses were given to those who trained in Europe, not to those in Russia. They compete there, and no one tells them: “Ugh, you are from Russia.” All this is politically exaggerated. Almost everything is fine inside. Of course, it will not be easy for our Parisians. Perhaps there will be inappropriate people who can provoke them. Therefore, children have strength and strength, if they have any,” Zaitseva told .
The games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
