While the ceremony is a tradition, this year it was marked by especially fervent calls to defend the country’s honour, given that more than 100 Russian athletes have been banned because of state-sponsored doping. The International Gymnastics Federation said it has established a “pool of eligible Russian athletes” and is awaiting IOC approval. “Time will show those people who suspended us”.
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Putin said Russians excelled in the face of adversity.
With Russia months away from parliamentary elections and stuck in an economic crisis, the scandal, which centers on allegations the Russian government and the FSB security service covered up doping for years, has rocked the Russian sports world and tarnished Putin’s showcase 2014 winter Olympics. Other sports, such as judo and tennis, have allowed the entire Russian team to compete in their sport.
“There is always one issue or another to be solved in the last days before the Olympic Games”, he said.
“Fans will be able to follow sports, athletes and the stories behind the Olympic Games”.
They were not part of the Rio weightlifting team, who face a blanket ban.
“It’s obvious that the absence of Russian competitors — leaders in many disciplines — markedly lowers, and will lower the intensity of the fight and that means the spectacle at the upcoming events”, Putin said in a speech.
“I will be undoubtedly following the developments at the Olympic Games, except for track and field competitions”, Isinbayeva said in an interview with TASS.
Bach fired back that the decision to leave individual sports federations to decide which Russians could compete “respects the right of every clean athlete around the world”, noting that would-be Russian Olympians must clear “the highest hurdles” to make the Games.
“Of course, it will not be easy for those who will go to Rio”.
Russia’s weightlifting team has been dogged by doping cases and faced further embarrassment Wednesday when retests of samples from the 2012 Olympics saw four Russians, including three medalists, test positive.
The IOC has received praise from Moscow but stinging criticism from elsewhere for failing to impose a total ban on Russian Federation over shocking evidence of a state-organised system to cheat its way to glory in olympic and world sport.
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“The Olympic Village will be fantastic”, Bach said.
