Russian athletes agreed to participate in the winter Olympic games 2018 in a neutral status. The unanimous decision was taken today at the Olympic Committee in Moscow. Despite all obstacles and limitations, the Russian athletes will defend the honor of their country. Such a decision, as the president's press secretary stated, will be supported. Dmitry Peskov reminded of the president's words that nobody should prevent the athletes from going to the Olympic games if it's their decision to participate.
Maria Saushkina reports.
The Olympic Committee hall is full. The first row is taken by the hoсkey team, figure and speed skaters and the curling team. They feel determined and have no doubt about going and defending the honor of the country.
Ilya Sorokin, hockey goalkeeper, "Our flag is in our hearts".
Anton Belov, hockey defenseman, "Everybody knows where we're from and which country we are representing. Such circumstances are the result of the pressure of the world on Russia, which we've felt all the time."
- The hockey players say they will have "Russia" printed on their shirts. What about you?
Evgeniya Tarasova, figure skater, "We have "Russia" written on our ice skates".
The athletes promise to fight hard, despite the neutral Olympic flag. Victory is the goal, whatever the cost.
Ksenia Stolbova, Olympic champion in figure skating, "We will fight for our country, nothing will change, also inside us".
Fyodor Klimov, Olympic champion in figure skating, "If somebody forgets, we will remind them that we are representing our country".
Vitaliy Smirnov, Head of the Anti-Doping Committee, "I think we have taken the right decision, the one that suits our athletes, first of all, because it gives us the opportunity to participate in the Olympic games. It doesn't deny us of the right to pursue legal actions with respect to the ban on Russian athletes".
The Russian Olympic Committee will provide all financial and legal aid to the athletes. It won't be easy and there will be obstacles in the way. The International Olympic Committee now decides who will or will not participate in the games. It will send personal invitations to athletes. There is concern that the much-fancied ones won't be admitted.
Sofya Velikaya, Head of the Athlete Committee, "The decision was made that the Russian athletes will participate, and that's great. At least, the people can relax and get ready for the games, although little time is left".
The Head of the Russian Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov is sure that the political decision of the IOC shouldn't affect the athletes, who are innocent. The unjust charges based on the evidence of one person, whose mental health arouses concern, shouldn't deprive of the right to participate those who spent their lives preparing for the games. The 4-year pause can downgrade the athlete's abilities and demotivate them. One can't give up in this situation.
Alexander Zhukov, Head of the Russian Olympic Committee, "The main question that worries everyone is whether our leading athletes will be invited, that only second-rate athletes end up getting an invitation and not the leading ones".
It's clear that the Russian athletes will endure psychological pressure at the games in PyeongChang. The fans will keep up the spirit of the athletes. This support will enable them to fight to the end. The tricolors are allowed only on the tribunes. The Russian athletes could be punished for any allusions to the flag, even for the use of white, blue and red color.
Everything will be settled on 15 December. The representatives of the Russian Olympic Committee will go to Lausanne to clear all the issues connected with the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic games.
Maria Saushkina, Kirill Puzirniy Vesti
