“The Olympic Games without Russians is some kind of regional championship. “Friendship Games” are more promising” – Golotsutskov

Two-time Olympic bronze medalist in artistic gymnastics Anton Golotsutskov supported the decision of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) not to finance athletes who will take part in the Olympics in Paris in a neutral status.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on December 8 that it will allow Russian and Belarusian athletes who have successfully qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in individual neutral status. In Paris, Russian and Belarusian athletes can only compete without the flag, anthem and other national symbols. The IOC banned the participation of athletes associated with security forces or who expressed support for the CBO.

— If the Russian Olympic Committee made such a decision, it was not made by one person. Once the team has agreed, we must act together. Surely there is a plan, a strategy. And today it seems to me more promising to develop the Friendship Games than to go to the Olympics, where we are not expected. And the Olympic Games without our athletes are not the Olympics, but some kind of regional championship. Therefore, in any case, I support the conceived strategy and which our officials adhere to. How many people are trying to infringe on us, to show us our place – but we don’t need to show it, we know our place ourselves. Where we are, everyone will follow us, and we will not follow anyone. And we have always been like this,” Gazeta.Ru quotes Golotsutskov.

The Olympic Games in Paris will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024. The Friendship Games will take place from September 15 to 29, 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg.