The war of words continues between Russia and the IOC. It's still gaining speed. As expected, Moscow did not remain without reaction after the announcement of the decision of the executive commission of the Olympic body, Tuesday March 19, to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the parade of delegations at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Games.
The Kremlin has not held back its criticism. He even pushed the cursor several notches further, in response not only to the exclusion of his athletes from the parade on the Seine, but also to the accusation made by the IOC of “ politicize sport » with the organization next September of the Friendship Games in Moscow and Yekaterinburg.
« These decisions demonstrate the extent to which the IOC has strayed from its stated principles and descended into racism and neo-Nazism, declared Wednesday, March 20, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. The IOC's decisions are illegal, unjust and unacceptable. We are outraged by these unprecedented discriminatory conditions. »
Same statement without nuance from Vladimir Putin's spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, in response to the announcement made by James McLeod, director of relations with the national Olympic committees and Olympic Solidarity of the IOC, of possible sanctions against foreign athletes who would participate in the Friendship Games. “ This is athlete intimidation., he said. This completely undermines the authority of the IOC. It is the destruction of the ideal of Olympism. »
The IOC's reaction was quick. Mark Adams, its spokesperson, took advantage of the closing press conference of the executive commission meeting on Wednesday to respond to Moscow's attacks. “This goes beyond anything that is acceptable, he suggested to the media. Linking the president, his nationality and the Holocaust to this falls even lower. »
Thomas Bach, for his part, assured that he had not had the slightest exchange with the Russian sports authorities, proof of a dialogue broken down for several months between the two camps. “ No, I did not speak to the minister, nor to his advisor, nor to the national Olympic committee”, he explained at a press conference.
For the IOC president, the ball is in the court of Russia and its Olympic committee. “ It's very clear: everyone who respects the rules is welcome in the Olympic movement, he said. Therefore, as long as the ROC respects the rules, it is welcome. And the ball is in their court right now."
