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The topic of the appropriateness of the participation of Russian athletes in a neutral status at the Olympic Games in Paris has reached a new level of severity after almost polar opinions were expressed by the President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Stanislav Pozdnyakov and the country's Minister of Sports Oleg Matytsin. Sports correspondent – with an overview of the positions of both famous people in the Russian sports world and readers.
“Team of foreign agents”
It all started with a statement by the President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics (VFKhG) Irina Viner, who, in a conversation with, described the athletes who will go to the Olympics in Paris as “a team of homeless people without a flag, an anthem and fans.” In response to this, the first racket of Russia Daria Kasatkina wrote on social networks “Homeless Daria says hello”, and later in an interview with Sport Express she stated that she would “with great pleasure” go to the Olympic Games. She was echoed by the best tennis player in Russia, Daniil Medvedev, who also emphasized that he would be happy to go to Paris for the Olympics.
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“I share and fully support Irina Alexandrovna’s position, our opinions here completely coincide,” Pozdnyakov said in response to all this. — The only thing I don’t agree with is the definition of “a team of homeless people.” specifically in the case of tennis players who live abroad most of the time, earn money there, claim that they are “playing for themselves,” and condemn the policies of their country and the Central Military District. So, from my point of view, “a team of foreign agents” is more correct. For whom there will definitely be no obstacles to representing themselves at the Olympics.”
Stanislav Pozdnyakov
Head of the ROC
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On Friday evening, the reaction of the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov and the Russian Minister of Sports Oleg Matytsin appeared.
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“We proceed from what has already been said by the president several times: our athletes and the relevant federations themselves make the decision to participate in the Olympic Games. Athletes can make that decision, and those who are willing to participate should. Together with all Russians, we will rejoice at the victories of our athletes, including tennis players, who honorably defend our flag, even when they compete without one. For us, they are still Russian tennis players of whom we are proud.”
Dmitry Peskov
“Not the Russians, but a scarecrow without a banner”
The dispute involving Russia's leading tennis players and the country's sports leaders caused a great resonance among readers. Here are some opinions expressed by site visitors.
- “It is humiliating for a citizen of his country to stand under a white flag, which means surrender. To be a silent pawn is even more humiliating: the anthem of your country is the voice of the entire state” (Konstantin Klementyev).
- “Stop tying politics to sports. Athletes want to compete. And let them compete. For themselves. And there’s nothing terrible about that” (Lorik).
- “Yes, they are “Russian athletes are no longer Russian – they live and train abroad. We just need to legitimize their status, let them constantly walk under the white flag” (Gordon Fast).
- ” Why do we need ownerless athletes? Let them hand over their Russian passports and perform under the white rags of defeatists as much as they want! Wherever they have money, there is their homeland” (Rina Kudryavtseva).
- “How many of your own citizens can you call foreign agents? Then name everyone at once who disagrees with the authorities in some way” (Tatyana Kuznetsova).
- “What Olympics? They would be ashamed. These are not Russians. Scarecrows without a banner, without an anthem and without a conscience. The concept of the Motherland and patriotism is alien to them!” (Taras Shevchenko).
- “Why is Ovechkin allowed, but Medvedev not? Why do we need OCD if there is no Olympics for Russia? How many double standards can we have? Medvedev spent his entire life working toward this Olympics, that’s his right! (Linelli Mir).
- “Highly paid cosmopolitans. They can afford to participate in the Olympic Games for their own money. The flag has no meaning for them” (ELVIRA CHALENKO).
- “If they are traitors and foreign agents, then punish them, deprive them of citizenship and annul all their achievements. Otherwise it’s just chatter, I’m tired of this co-feeding” (akela70a74).
- “I’m not surprised. Tennis is very isolated, it’s a sport of egoists. They are purely nominal Russians, and they frankly don’t care about the opinions of other Russians” (Pasha Zmiev).
- ” The guys at the front are giving their lives, and these healthy men under the white flag are earning money for themselves. Remove the reservation and everyone for the ribbon” (Greta Zubritsky).
Many famous people also spoke out on the sensitive topic from sports. As among readers, there were polar positions.
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“A big man in a high position (Pozdnyakov – ed.) – and says such things. If people travel under such conditions, they are already in a difficult situation. Why do they need to add from their own people, from the leaders of the sport? They are not involved in the fact that they were suspended, while they have a short sports life. He doesn't understand the psychology of athletes. What right do we have to condemn them? Who gave this right to Pozdnyakov? Nobody, although he is a big boss for a while.”
Tatyana Tarasova
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“Legally, they do not qualify as foreign agents, but partly they do. This is a separate case that must be considered under certain specifics. They are forced, in fact, to receive funding from the West, their sport is structured in such a way that almost all tournaments are held there “. Of course, the guys themselves will make decisions about their performance at the Olympics. If Russia financed them, we could make claims and say: “How can you be individual athletes?” We now see that they are trying to drive them into some kind of framework , so that they basically abandon the country. They haven’t lived in Russia for a long time, what kind of civil position could they have?” />
Svetlana Zhurova
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“Tennis players are a slightly isolated group of athletes who, from childhood, train at their own expense, and not for state money. They seem to be outside the usual sports field, so they have their own idea of where to participate. If they signed documents condemning Russian policies and so on, then let it be on their conscience. Athletes who aggressively condemn Russian policies can still be classified as foreign agents, although I don’t know any who directly oppose Russia.”
Dmitry Vasiliev
Poll
Do you consider Russian tennis players who will perform at the Olympics in a neutral status as your own? and will you root for them?
Yes, they are famous all over the world and glorify Russia, even performing without a flag17.7%
No, they play for themselves, their victories are indifferent to me82.3%
Vote
Voted: 1152
April 6, 14:40
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