The linker between Dynamo Moscow and the Russian national volleyball team, Pavel Pankov, said that the national team will wait until the last minute for a change in the decision to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

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 a neutral status. However, admission recommendations include a ban on the Russian national team participating in team competitions.

— The Olympic Games will be held next year, where, most likely, there will be no Russian volleyball team. With what feelings do you observe what is happening: melancholy, sadness, or have you managed to abstract yourself?

— To be honest, I don’t watch at all. When we played international matches, I followed the championships of Italy and Turkey, but now I don’t. I even deleted the channel, it’s not interesting to me, like all foreign matches. I watch analyzes of each round of the Russian Championship, this is interesting to me.

— The Olympics are the main tournament of the four years. What are your expectations?

— We are waiting for the Olympic Games. We believe until the end that something can change and they will let us in. We will prepare and wait until the last minute.

— If they don’t allow it to Paris, will it be a big blow for Russian volleyball?

– It won’t, there’s nothing wrong with that. We will wait for the next Olympic Games. In 2026 I will be 32 years old, the most important thing is to take care of my health and continue to play.

— Do you miss the national team matches?

— Matches, that is, we are playing with Belarus. Let’s get together and train. This is interesting, you get new experience from the best players in Russia – this is also necessary,” Metaratings.ru quotes Pankov as saying.