Russia will continue to protect the interests of Russian athletes in contacts with the IOC – Peskov

Russia will continue to protect the interests of Russian athletes, including in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.

– As for relations with the IOC, in any case, of course, and the president has repeatedly spoken about this, we are all obliged, in contacts, including with the IOC, and with other organizations, to continue to protect the interests of our athletes, which, in fact, and is happening,” said Peskov, quoted by RIA Novosti.

The press secretary of Vladimir Putin also stressed that the head of state focused on the need to develop a system of domestic competitions with the participation of athletes from friendly countries.

– Here, it’s over, it’s better to ask our authorities. Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin is here. You can ask him this question. I can only say to this that at various events with the participation of the president… The topic of Russian sports was repeatedly discussed against the backdrop of the unprecedented sports restrictions that were introduced. The President emphasized the need to introduce a whole system of internal competitions, expanded competitions with the participation of other, friendly countries, Peskov added.

Earlier, the IOC called on international sports federations to remove athletes from Russia and Belarus from official competitions in connection with the situation in Ukraine.