Thomas Bach once again called on international organizations not to allow Russians to start, but at the same time stood up for our athletes when some countries began to provoke outright Russophobia. It remains to understand where the real head of the IOC is, and where is the fake.

Bach’s strange position on the removal of Russia

South Korea is hosting a meeting of the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) these days. The main topic, of course, is the situation with Russia’s admission to international competitions. President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach delivered a long speech, most of which was devoted to the situation in Ukraine. The German recommended that the international federations extend the sanctions against Russian sports, but at the same time stated that politics should not affect our athletes, who are not to blame for anything.

– We removed Russia and Belarus with a heavy heart, because the sanctions affected athletes, coaches, functionaries who did not start a special operation in Ukraine. They should not be held responsible for the actions of their governments. And here we are faced with an unsolvable dilemma. We thought for a long time and came to the conclusion that the only way to protect athletes is to recommend that federations remove Russian and Belarusian athletes. Today it is Russia and Belarus, and tomorrow it can be you,” Bach said at the assembly in Seoul.

Photo: © RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich

Hardly besieged the bawler-Dane

Thomas again said, on the one hand, adequate things, and, on the other, contradicted himself. This is not the first time he repeats the same mantra – Russian athletes are not to blame for what is happening, but we will punish them anyway. It seems that the head of the IOC is just working out the agenda and cannot express his real opinion.

Although Bach does not allow himself to completely indulge in Russophobia. And I don’t intend to let others do it. We are talking about the trick of the head of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Denmark, Hans Natorp, who actively advocated a boycott of the General Assembly in South Korea due to the presence of Russian representatives there. During his speech, Natorp said that “Russians should not be present in world sport in any form.” And in general, he used the word “Russians” several times, which literally infuriated Bach. The head of the IOC unexpectedly stood up for Russia and attacked the Danish official.

– Our unity does not lie in the fact that everyone thinks like you. We have a democracy here, and we must respect the opinion of the majority. When you talk about “Russians” like that, you show your attitude. There are no Russians, Danes, Germans, Argentines. There are athletes for us, sports organizations, but we will not classify everyone with the same brush just because of the actions of their government, Bach said.

Photo: © Maja Hitij / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

Is it possible to look for a positive in this?

Journalists from the British edition of Inside the Games, who were present at the meeting of the General Assembly, confirmed that Bach literally lost his temper, responding to the attacks of the head of the Danish NOC. He was a little calmer when officials from Norway and New Zealand called for the complete isolation of Russia. Apparently, Thomas had already adapted to such speeches and answered them with feeling, sense and arrangement.

It is clear that in the near future Russia will not be allowed anywhere, with the exception of rare federations and individual competitions like the NHL and the UFC. But the fact that the president of the International Olympic Committee does not allow Russia to be trampled into the mud and harshly responds to bawling officials from other countries is nevertheless encouraging. And it gives hope that when the situation in Ukraine normalizes, the IOC will not delay the decision on our athletes.