The IOC made an official statement regarding the "alternative Olympics" from Russia

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially opposed the Friendship Games. The main tournament of 2024, according to Russian officials, which the Russian media have dubbed the "new Olympics," is scheduled to take place in Moscow and Yekaterinburg from September 15 to 29, 2024, a month and a half later than the 2024 Games in Paris.

James McLeod, the IOC's director of the department, said that given the increasing politicization of world sport, the IOC is asking all National Olympic Committees to "exercise caution with this initiative."

"Any participation of NOCs in the World Friendship Games would not only contradict the recommendation of the IOC Executive Board of February 25, 2022, regarding international sporting events held in Russia, but would also contradict the collective goal of the Olympic movement to preserve the independence and autonomy of sport," Inside the Games quoted McLeod as saying.

Earlier, Tatyana Navka accused the IOC of trying to monopolize sports and intimidate international federations. And two-time Olympic hockey champion Vyacheslav Fetisov threw a real tantrum and demanded that the IOC not interfere in Russia's affairs. 

 In turn, the president of the Russian Ski Racing Federation (RRF), Yelena Vyalbe, expressed the absurd idea that Russian athletes would be persuaded to return to international tournaments.

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