By Tushar Bhaduri
Those who believe that sport and politics don’t go together should reconsider their opinion based on reactions to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) attempts to bring Russian and Belarusian athletes back onto the world stage, a move not only opposed to Ukraine, but almost the entire western world vehemently protested.
Also read: Ringside view of Tushar Bhaduri: Most bankable match-winner
Russia’s invasion of its immediate western neighbor (a campaign Moscow calls a “military special operation”) using Belarus as a launch pad is well into its second year, but shows no sign of stopping. Given that several former and current athletes lost their lives in the war and that Russian sport is closely linked to its armed forces and intelligence services, the argument against their reintegration into international sport can be well understood.
Many active athletes have expressed their feelings in favor of their Ukrainian counterparts and have refused to play against Russian and Belarusian athletes, or at least refused to shake hands with them.
On the other hand, while developing a way to bring athletes from both countries back into the elite arena, the IOC argues that athletes are not penalized based on their passports and are not held accountable for their athletes’ decisions and actions can governments. The World Organization has ruled that Russians and Belarusians left behind would have to compete as “neutrals” without their national flags, symbols or anthems. Athletes from these two countries would only compete in individual competitions and not in team sports.
That plan doesn’t include next year’s Paris Olympics, but is unlikely to bring an end to the impasse. A large proportion of the Russian medalists at the Tokyo Games had ties to the armed forces or the secret service. They are either open supporters or identify with the current regime in the Kremlin.
The IOC tried to play an even game, but as is often seen in such cases, it ended up leaving both sides upset. Ukraine and the western bloc have targeted the world body for ignoring the plight of the country and its athletes suffering from an invasion and for cracking down on so-called popular sentiment among athletes. Many countries have threatened to boycott the Paris Olympics if Russians and Belarusians attend while the invasion is still ongoing. Ukraine has banned its athletes from participating in events, even Olympic qualifiers, when athletes from Russia or Belarus participate.
The IOC has pointed to tennis as one of the sports in which Russians and Belarusians compete, often against Ukrainians over the net, although the two countries’ flags are not shown. But several top players have called out IOC President Thomas Bach for this example, saying they have no choice as their placings and winnings are at stake. In fact, Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko said she suffered a panic attack when WTA boss Steve Simon expressed his confidence in the Russians and Belarusians returning to the Olympics. World No. 1 from Poland Iga Swiatek has also been vocal in support of her Ukrainian colleagues.
Can’t please everyone
The Russians have criticized the recommendations as effectively disqualifying a large part of their likely contingent, allegedly breaching fair play and mixing sport with politics.
Also Read: Ringside View of Tushar Bhaduri: Pitch Plays in Australian Minds
The whole issue takes on added significance as Russia is a true sporting superpower and medals won in their absence may not be pitted against the best possible competition. India’s eighth ice hockey gold medal at Moscow 1980 is said to have often been achieved in games ravaged by a boycott.
On the other hand, there is the argument that elite national teams such as Italy, the Netherlands and England have often failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, but it has done little to take the shine off the Greatest Show on Earth.
Wimbledon banned Russians and Belarusians from the tournament last year, resulting in a loss of ranking points and a fine for his decision. But this year it has also joined other Grand Slams by allowing competitors from those two countries as ‘neutrals’ despite concerns that any good performance by a Russian and a Belarusian could be used by their governments for propaganda purposes on all of these players must sign a pledge that they will not support the invasion and will not be sponsored by their government or state agencies.
Well, it’s not the first time geopolitical issues have cast a shadow over the Olympics. During the Cold War, the 1980 Moscow Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Games were boycotted by the United States and the Soviet Union, respectively. In modern times, North Korea resorts to retreats to capture the world’s attention.
However, Russians and Belarusians have an ally in the form of Asia, where they can at least get some top-level competition that they may not currently face in Europe. There is also talk of them competing in Asian Olympic qualifiers in various sports and competing for spots that are available on the continent. But that can spoil the playing field as athletes from the two countries, invariably of a high standard, step up the competition and end up taking Olympic spots for Asian competitors.
India and most Asian countries have joined Russia and Belarus in standing in solidarity against what they see as Western hubris and double standards. But even they will not like to act against their own interests and those of their athletes.
One thing is for sure. It’s not the last time you’ve heard of this complicated topic.
Comments are closed.