"A person should experience humiliation": Russian Federation's OI champion lashed out at IOC over OI eligibility conditions

The president of the Russian Swimming Federation (RFS), Vladimir Salnikov, has called the conditions for allowing Russian athletes to participate in international competitions humiliating. The four-time Olympic champion noted that the athletes will allegedly decide for themselves whether they will go to the Paris 2014 Games.

Salnikov said this in a commentary to the propaganda news agency RIA Novosti. The former swimmer criticized the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and expressed confidence that Russians should not participate in the Olympics in a neutral status.

"The IOC hasn't announced anything new. The conditions remain unacceptable, and people should feel humiliated. Neither I nor the athletes see anything positive. It's just another profanation that we are tired of. A decision was made according to which the athletes have the right to choose. But are they interested in going nowhere with a white flag? All that's left is to embroider a number on their backs instead of their names," Salnikov said.

On December 8, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics in neutral status. However, this applies only to individual events, and the athletes themselves must meet certain criteria.

In response, Russian rhythmic gymnastics representatives announced a boycott of the 2024 Games. Swimmer Yevgeny Rylov also refused to travel to Paris.

Dictator Vladimir Putin did not give an unambiguous decree to his athletes on how to deal with the 2024 Olympics. Later, the IOC reduced the number of Russians who were allowed to participate in the Games, which will be held in Paris from July 26 to August 11. Initially, it was reported that 8 Russians and 3 Belarusians had been selected.

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