According to the newspaper, Russian athletes who will take part in the Tokyo Olympics have been sent instructions on how to speak to the press. The press service of the Russian Olympic Committee (OKR) has confirmed this information to the newspaper.
This is justified by the fact that “information spreads very quickly, but any careless response, which from time to time is skilfully learned by specially trained people, then has an extremely negative effect on the athlete”.
It is reported that the OKR has prepared instructions for athletes, especially on answers to political questions. It is recommended to answer “no comments”.
The exception is the Black Lives Matter movement, which is said to be a personal matter, but “the Olympics should not become a stage for any action or gesture.” On the other hand, the answer to the questions related to the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass, as well as other similar questions, must be guided by the axiom that “sport should remain outside politics”.
When asked about doping scandals in Russia, the athlete has nothing to say because he has not been involved in them, but sanctions against Russia must be commented on by those who introduced them.
On the other hand, when it comes to sexual harassment in sports, the answer is that I have not had to deal with it myself, but “I know that such a problem exists in many countries”.
In these games, under the influence of sanctions, Russian athletes will compete under the flag of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). When asked about this, the athlete must say that he represents his country in any case and is proud of it, although the Russian anthem, which he would love to hear, will not be played.
It has already been reported that Peter Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto will be performed instead of the Russian anthem. Instead of the neutral flag with five Olympic circles used in Pyongyang at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the athletes of the Russian delegation will start under the OKR flag.
Representatives of the State Duma have pointed out that the instruction of athletes is a common phenomenon in the West, but in Russia it last happened during the years of the Soviet Union.
OKR will represent more than 300 athletes in Tokyo.
The Olympic Games in Tokyo are planned from July 23 to August 8.
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