Liked war symbols - competing in the Olympic Games anyway

Two out of three neutral Russians competing in the Olympic Games are not actually that neutral. This is claimed by the human rights organization Global Rights Compliance (GRC), which has reviewed the process.

» Published: July 30 2024

Liked war symbols - competing in the Olympic Games anyway
Photo: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP/TT

Individual Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to participate in the Olympic Games under a neutral flag. Additionally, certain neutrality requirements are imposed, including that athletes must not actively support Russia's war in Ukraine.

15 Russian and 17 Belarusian athletes are registered for the Olympic Games. According to the GRC, ten of the 15 Russian athletes "have broken the principles of participation", reports AFP.

"Not acted in accordance with their own rules"

One of them is Yelena Vesnina, a Russian tennis player born in Ukraine. According to the GRC, she has liked posts about Russian soldiers killing Ukrainians and posts displaying the Russian war symbol "Z". Along with Yekaterina Alexandrova, she lost her first match in the tournament against a Czech pair on Monday.

Another, cyclist Tamara Dronova, is accused of having ties to Russia's national security service.

The GRC sharply criticizes the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) review process:

"Despite clear evidence of rule-breaking, the IOC has not acted in accordance with its own rules", they write.

The IOC responded with a statement to AFP:

"The athletes have been reviewed in accordance with the IOC's board decision and the principles established. We have nothing more to add."

Sweden against Russian participation

Bo Petersson – professor of political science at Malmö University and specialized in Russian politics – told TT last week that the Russian athletes' participation in the Olympic Games cannot be seen as a political triumph for Russia in the short term.

Purely politically, it's not a propaganda victory for Russia or Belarus. It can, of course, be interpreted in internal propaganda as yet another proof that the "evil West" is always opposing them. And that will probably happen, he says.

The Swedish Olympic Committee is against the decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate.

We don't think Russian and Belarusian athletes or leaders should be allowed to participate in international sports while waging an aggressive war against a neighboring, free nation. We think it's wrong, said Sweden's team leader Peter Reinebo earlier to TT.

The International Olympic Committee has issued the following recommendations for Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympic Games in Paris:

+ Athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports can only compete individually and as neutrals.

+ No teams consisting of athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports can compete.

+ Athletes, leaders, or officials who have actively supported the war cannot compete.

+ Athletes employed or contracted by the Russian or Belarusian military or security service cannot compete.

+ Athletes must comply with the anti-doping regulations.

Russian athletes were allowed to compete under a neutral flag at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympic Games and the 2021 Summer Olympic Games – due to a ban for widespread doping in the country.

32 athletes from Russia and Belarus are registered for the Olympic Games in Paris. Tennis is the sport with the most athletes from the two countries. The Russian world number five Daniil Medvedev is a notable name.

Source: The Swedish Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

Swedes Shine in Toronto's 6-2
1 MIN READ

Swedes Shine in Toronto's 6-2 Rout of Ottawa

Lindblad Wins LPGA Title in
2 MIN READ

Lindblad Wins LPGA Title in LA, Takes Home $750,000 Prize

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead
2 MIN READ

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead of Verstappen

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in
2 MIN READ

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in Champions League Semifinal

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division
3 MIN READ

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division 7, That's Unacceptable"

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration
2 MIN READ

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration

Celina's Classy Goal Secures AIK's
2 MIN READ

Celina's Classy Goal Secures AIK's Top Spot in Allsvenskan

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring
1 MIN READ

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring Season with Fracture

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure
3 MIN READ

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure as Minnesota's Top Goalie

Sabalenka Warned for Taking Photo
1 MIN READ

Sabalenka Warned for Taking Photo During Dispute with Umpire

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First in Thrilling LPGA Tournament Battle

Swedish Players Shine in Stanley
1 MIN READ

Swedish Players Shine in Stanley Cup Opener Despite St Louis Loss

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah
1 MIN READ

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah After Norris Crash

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls
1 MIN READ

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls 4-1 to Aston Villa

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime
2 MIN READ

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime Thriller to Lead Championship Series

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head
1 MIN READ

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head Coaches After Missing Playoffs

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial
2 MIN READ

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial Win Over Halmstad

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken
2 MIN READ

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken Secures Second Consecutive Victory

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes
2 MIN READ

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes 12th Champions League Final

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two
1 MIN READ

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two Goals in Malmö FF's 4-1 Victory Over AIK

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice
1 MIN READ

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice Hockey World Championship After Close Loss

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels
1 MIN READ

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels Him Up 39 Spots in Shanghai

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out
1 MIN READ

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out for Season After Knee Injury

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach
1 MIN READ

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach of Södertälje Sports Club

Robots Struggle in First Human
1 MIN READ

Robots Struggle in First Human vs. Machine Half-Marathon in Beijing

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's
2 MIN READ

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's Leadership in Tampa Bay

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with
1 MIN READ

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with Overtime Win Over Atlanta

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best Round at LPGA in Los Angeles

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's
1 MIN READ

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's Lead Over Moreirense

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve
2 MIN READ

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve Training by Canucks Coach Tocchet

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits
1 MIN READ

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits World Championship in Brazil

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without
1 MIN READ

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without Top Scorer Jason Robertson

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find
1 MIN READ

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find Form at RBC Heritage

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward
2 MIN READ

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward for Alleged Spearing Incident

NHL's Forsberg Eager for World
2 MIN READ

NHL's Forsberg Eager for World Championship, But Confirmation Pending

Thoresen's Pep Talk Fuels Djurgården's
3 MIN READ

Thoresen's Pep Talk Fuels Djurgården's Stunning Comeback Victory