Volleyball world champion Goncharova assessed the chances of the Russians returning to international tournaments after the US NOC statement

Dynamo Moscow volleyball player Natalia Goncharova urged not to attach importance to the words of the representative of the US Olympic Committee Suzanne Lyons about the admission of Russians to international tournaments, since no decision has been made on this issue at the moment.

Earlier, the head of the executive committee of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Lyons called for permission for Russians and Belarusians to compete at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in a neutral status and without a national flag.

– We have already gone through the story with a neutral flag. For Russian athletes, the main thing now is participation in international competitions. In any case, we will represent Russia, everyone will know where we are from. And the statement of the US NOC means nothing, nothing will change from this. Americans can say whatever they want, but we are still suspended. You should not pay attention to the fact that the rhetoric of our rivals is changing.

That’s when we will really be returned to the world stage, then we will all rejoice at this together and try to win again. I really hope that next year we will be able to compete at international competitions, but it’s not for me to decide, but for Thomas Bach, who gives recommendations to international federations, ”Goncharova said in an interview with Match TV.

At the end of February, the executive committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommended that international sports federations ban the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in official competitions. In December, following a meeting of the IOC executive committee, the head of the organization, Bach, said that sanctions against the two countries should be maintained.