Zhurova: “Our society can ask an athlete why he was allowed by the IOC”
Svetlana Zhurova believes that with the admission of Russian athletes, the IOC will not be able to avoid bias, and Russian society needs to “not succumb to the chaos that they are trying to put in our heads”
Svetlana Zhurova
(Photo: Donat Sorokin/TASS)
First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Olympic champion Svetlana Zhurova, said on RBC air that it is necessary to prevent a split in society and labeling athletes because of the conditions of the IOC for admission to the Olympics.
The Olympic champion expressed concern that the decision on the athletes would be made by “a certain commission”, which, due to the political situation, would be “probably biased.” Zhurova urged in this situation “not to succumb to the chaos that they are trying to plant in our heads.”
The deputy cited as an example a situation where in one team an athlete with the fifth result at the Russian Championship can get admission to tournaments, but the world champion will not be allowed.
“What will our society do next? It will ask this athlete: why were you included in this list, but that one was not included? Are you not a patriot? You really don’t support CBO? Come on, quickly tell us publicly whether you support it or not, ”said Zhurova.
The IOC will determine the conditions for admission to international competitions of Russians and Belarusians after consultations with international federations. At the same time, the organization has already named “strict conditions” for athletes of the two countries: they should not be seen actively supporting the special operation in Ukraine, they should not violate the anti-doping code, they will also be subject to an individual check.
Head of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov declaredwhich does not agree with any restrictions, additional requirements and sanctions that relate to the nationality of Russian athletes.
