Russians blame two countries for sports isolation

For much than 3 years, Russian athletes person been isolated from competing successful squad sports, but they are allowed to vie individually nether a neutral flag. This concern is simply a nonstop effect of Russia's penetration of Ukraine, which began connected February 24, 2022.

National teams and clubs from that state bash not enactment successful UEFA, FIFA oregon FIVB competitions, portion tennis players could inactive play arsenic neutral athletes. Although immoderate successful the sports satellite are calling for an easing of sanctions, Russia inactive has superior plans for a comeback.

First Deputy Chairman of the Committee connected International Affairs of the State Duma, Olympic velocity skating champion Svetlana Zhurova, intelligibly named the main "enemies" of Russian sports.

The main enemies of Russian sport

"No substance however it sounds, the main force of Russian sports is Ukraine. There are nary different options. They constitute complaints to everyone, effort to crook everything against our athletes, signifier changeless protests. A radical of officials manages and directs Ukrainian sports successful this regard. Surely the West, which is funny successful this governmental accusation war, is paying for it. Ukrainian athletes are present being utilized arsenic a governmental instrumentality successful an accusation hybrid war," said Zhurova.

According to her, the 2nd is Dominik Hasek, a erstwhile Czech hockey player.

"You tin telephone Hasek our enemy. But the West besides uses him for its ain purposes. Hasek speaks wrong the model of the governmental concern helium is in. Hasek is utilized astatine times erstwhile it is indispensable to arouse antagonistic involvement successful Russia, successful Russian sports, due to the fact that helium volition surely accidental thing bad. It volition beryllium absorbing to spot Hasek erstwhile the SVO is over. I deliberation helium volition halt pouring h2o connected Russia," added the Olympian.

Sports Minister and President of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev said:

"People inactive retrieve the World Cup successful Russia. They retrieve however hospitable Russia was, however radical had amusive and cheered successful Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Volgograd, Kaliningrad and different cities."

He emphasized that the Olympic question should unite people.

"In 1980, they announced a boycott of us, and aboriginal we boycotted arsenic well. All of that was wrong, conscionable arsenic today's favoritism of our sportsmen connected the ground of nationality is besides wrong. This should stop," helium said.

However, Russian athletes presently bash not person the close to execute nether the nationalist emblem oregon anthem, but tin vie arsenic "Individual Neutral Athletes" with strict IOC checks and nary transportation to the subject oregon enactment for aggression.