The President of the Russian Swimming Federation, Vladimir Salnikov, has criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over the conditions for the admission of Russian athletes to the 2024 Games. The four-time Olympic Games winner called the requirements for representatives of the aggressor country to participate in the tournament in Paris "a real humiliation."

Salnikov said this in a comment to Sport24. According to the former swimmer, the Olympic Games are allegedly impossible to hold without Russians, and the IOC is "inventing additional obstacles to prevent" athletes from Russia from participating in the upcoming Games.

"The IOC offers conditions in which it is impossible to perform. This is a real humiliation! If they are not changed, the chances of our athletes competing in Paris are almost zero. I can't imagine the Olympics without Russia, but everything is being done to keep us out. Currently, there is a competition in the theater of the absurd: "Who will come up with additional obstacles to keep Russia out?" The ideals of Olympism have not disappeared. The restrictions are creating double standards. At the same time, people keep a straight face and believe they have made a great achievement," Salnikov said.

Earlier, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, president of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), said that his organization would not send athletes to the Paris 2024 Games. As a reminder, the IOC has temporarily expelled the ROC, which illegally included Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson councils in its membership.

As OBOZ.UA reported, Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin accused the IOC of "ethnic discrimination" against Russians. In response, the organization harshly put the Russian president in his place.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!