But how will it all end? Will there be Russian athletes at the Paris Games? Or Ukrainians? The situation is so complicated that it is difficult to envisage an exit solution, at least as long as the conflict lasts.
By deciding on March 28 that Russian and Belarusian athletes could return to international competitions, subject to conditions, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also gave itself time to wait to see if it would pave the way for the Games. from Paris to athletes from Moscow or Minsk. Wise decision because the situation is degenerating into a big mess. The Ukrainians no more than the Russians accept this decision. Having been given the mistigri by the IOC, each international federation acts as it sees fit.
Choices on a case-by-case basis
To date, archery, fencing, judo, canoeing, modern pentathlon, table tennis, shooting, skateboarding, taekwondo, triathlon and wrestling (not to mention the boxing federation, the IBA, suspended by the IOC) authorized the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes in neutral colours. Athletics, badminton, basketball, horseback riding, rock climbing, and surfing kept the suspension going.
The International Canoeing Federation (ICF) is the latest federation to have accepted the return of Russians and Belarusians, just after the cancellation of a Ukrainian cup sprint competition in Uman due to a bombardment of the city by Russian missiles which killed at least 25 civilians. The ICF Board of Directors took this decision within the framework set by the IOC: athletes will only be able to paddle in neutral colours, and an independent panel is called upon to define the rules of eligibility for athletes (not having publicly supported the invasion of Ukraine, not being military or supported by the armed or security forces…). Not to mention the anti-doping rules that apply to everyone. In addition, the ICF should ask each athlete to sign a declaration that they adhere to the conditions set. A declaration of neutrality whose principles should be unified for all international federations, according to Francesco Ricci Bitti, the president of the association of international summer Olympic federations (ASOIF).
A situation that no one satisfies
All this only makes people unhappy. The Ukrainians thus let it be known that they would not take part in the events where the Russians would be admitted. This is the case for the very next World Judo Championships, which are to take place in Doha (May 7-14). This applies to the smallest fencing world cup, some countries (Germany, Poland, France…) having decided not to organize events to avoid having to accept the Russians.
Through the voice of their leaders, the Russians let it be known for their part that they consider these criteria to be discriminatory and let it be understood that it is not certain that they will take part in the tests in which they would be admitted. The president of the Russian fencing federation recently said that nearly all of his top fencers are military or military-backed, making them ineligible for international competitions. The President of the Russian Olympic Committee, former saber fencer Stanislav Pozdniakov, went so far as to present the Russian NOC’s special prize to CSKA Moscow, the capital’s military club, on Saturday.
On the political level, almost all of the European countries and those in the sphere of influence of the United States remain opposed to the return of the Russians and put pressure on the IOC which, in the last instance, will decide sovereignly on the participation of the Russians and Belarusians at the Paris Games. Behind this pressure arises the possible question of a boycott of the 2024 Olympics, which is nevertheless considered minimal today on the part of France’s allies. At the forefront against the return of the Russians, the Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk counted 36 countries opposed to the Russian presence (out of 206 IOC members) while specifying that there was no question for his country of boycotting the meeting. you Parisian.
How could all this end? Very smart who can say it today. Voted more than a month ago, the decision of the international fencing federation to reinstate Russian athletes (a first in this area) has still not been implemented. The Russians thus lose precious points for the qualification for the Olympic Games, which has already begun in this sport. As the Russians consider the criteria imposed by the IOC to be discriminatory, it is not certain that they comply with them. As things stand, it can be estimated that 90%, if not more, of the best Russian athletes will not be eligible in view of the criteria set by the IOC which, according to Francesco Ricci Bitti, the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne could be made to check.
The Ukrainians, for their part, announced that they would not participate in competitions where athletes from Minsk or Moscow would be present, which means that they too could lose precious quotas.
The current trend seems that if there is a Russian delegation in Paris, it will only be reduced, especially since the IOC has excluded team sports from entry. We could arrive at the absurd (and therefore impossible) situation of seeing its athletes in certain sports and not in others since the IOC lets each international federation manage its qualification process freely. And why not while we’re at it, the Ukrainians present only in sports without Russians. It would make you smile if there were no reason to cry…
2023-05-02 11:00:00
#Russia #Belarus #international #competitions #imbroglio #sight
