Inform on yourself: the IOC called the rules for the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus

Ivan Zubov

In other words, in order for the IOC to participate in international tournaments in a neutral status, all Russian and Belarusian athletes will have to undergo an individual check to prove that they did not actively support the special operation in Ukraine and did not violate the anti-doping code.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), has already expressed disagreement with any restrictions:

"I perceive the information from the IOC as an attempt to take a step towards athletes. But at the same time, unfortunately, it is also two steps in the opposite direction!"— said Pozdnyakov. He also noted that the priority of the ROC remains to ensure the rights and interests of Russian athletes.

Presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov told RBC that there is "too much politics in the wording of the IOC initiative, which should be alien to the ideas of the Olympic family."

And the famous sports commentator Dmitry Guberniev called this proposal of the IOC nonsense:

"Air shaking! No one offers anything. It's just a declaration that let's do something to allow someone to go somewhere. What will it look like? Who will agree? This is absolute nonsense, you should not take it seriously".

Inform on yourself

Alas, this is not such nonsense, if you think about it.

Journalist Igor Shulika explains in his blog how such a decision of the IOC can turn out for the athletes themselves:

"Well, that is, it is proposed to sign a criminal case for yourself, as you understand. At best, administrative for discrediting the army. So the IOC's proposal can be used by literally a few athletes of the level of national teams who already do not live in Russia and intend to change their sports citizenship.

There is still tennis, its representatives will perform at the Olympics, but they practically do not live in Russia either. But it's not a fact anyway that in such a situation there will be a queue of them to be checked.

It is clear that sport has never been outside politics, it is a myth. But what is being proposed now is a violation of the principle of equality of athletes. It's better not to let anyone in then..."

Neither participate, nor cheer for…

However, Russia and Belarus will not only be unable to participate, but also to watch the broadcast of the Olympic Games until 2032.

A week ago, Novye Izvestia already reported that the rights to broadcast four Olympic Games in 2026-2032 in Europe were obtained by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the multinational conglomerate Warner Bros. Discovery. Russia and Belarus will not be able to broadcast the Games, it follows from the statement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"After the IOC announced a competitive tender, the EBU and Warner Bros. Discovery submitted a joint application for the acquisition of all media in 49 countries and territories of Europe for the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026, XXXIV Summer Games in Los Angeles 2028, XXVI Winter Olympic Games 2030 and XXXV Summer Games in Brisbane 2032, as well as for the Youth Olympic Games during this period," the statement said. Neither Russia nor Belarus appear in the list of 49 countries and territories of Europe.