Here in Italy, a sporting powerhouse seems to have disappeared from the map: Russia. The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games have begun, but almost no one talks about Russian athletes. I don’t see journalists from the country, who probably boycotted the event. It’s as if their story never existed.
These Games will be the sixth in a row in which Russia has been under some form of ban. First, because of the government-supported systematic doping scheme, and then because of the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus, which supports Russia in the war, was also suspended.
As the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics were just before the conflict began, they were still able to compete using the white, blue and red of their flag. With 200 athletes in the delegation, they won 32 medals, five of which were gold, finishing in second place overall, just behind the powerhouse Norway.
The rules became stricter. As in Paris-2024, the national committee remains suspended, Russia and Belarus cannot compete in team sports and athletes have undergone a rigorous selection process. They cannot have links with the Armed Forces or support war.
In Milan-Cortina, they will be supporting players. The powerful ice hockey team is banned. Alexander Bolshunov, three-time Olympic champion in cross-country skiing, who is in the army and participated in a pro-war demonstration organized by Vladimir Putin, would not even make the cut.
Twenty athletes qualified – 13 from Russia and seven from Belarus. The flag that represents them is green, with the acronym AIN, “neutral individual athletes” in French. As big Russian stars are not here, they should finish well down the medal table.
In football, the Russian national team and clubs have also been suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions since February 2022. But this could be close to an end.
This week, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said the punishment had achieved nothing and created more frustration and anger. Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), did not mention Russia by name, but stated that sport must remain on a neutral field, where athletes can compete freely, without interference from politics or divisions within their governments.
European Union countries and the United Kingdom are desperate for an end to the Ukrainian War. They know that Russia is a threat to Europe and have worked intensely for a peace agreement with the United States. At this time, they do not seem willing to accept the end of the ban on Russia.
The big question in the world of sport, when the war is over, will be: what to do now? There will be heated reactions from all sides. The fact is that, without war, it is difficult to sustain punishment. It’s either for everyone, or for no one.
Just don’t expect Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina to start shaking hands with Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka after a match, for example. Or for Ukrainians to accept competing against Russians.
Sports organizations will have to prepare for situations like these. The relationship between athletes is fractured in this and future generations.
The columnist is in Milan as a reporter for the organization responsible for the official broadcast of the Olympic Games
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