IOC's decision: (clean) Russian athletes can compete under neutral flag at PyeongChang Olympics

[BlueRidge]

There will be the ugly Olympic anthem played on if that's the case.

How about for the figure skaters we advocate they play their long program music?

 

[Hindernisse]

I think you have to take these previous statements from Putin with a grain of salt since they aren't as recent as his press secretary's comments yesterday. The only thing that might have pissed Putin off today enough to send him back over the edge to refusing to let any Russians compete at all is that the ROC ban is indefinite and could impact future Olympics beyond Pyeongchang. He clearly wanted this ban to be a one-off and he didn't get that at all.

If I understood correctly, Tomas Bach mentioned during the press briefing that the ban might be partially lifted after Pyeongchang if Russia fully complies with the ban... whatever that means.

 

[Allisanna]

Why do you say they didn't do anything? The Russians are completely banned. Maybe some athletes will compete--I hope so, actually-- but not under the Russian flag. The Russians will not field a team in the team event in figure skating. And Trump and the rest of the US government have nothing to do with the US Olympic team. US Olympics is privately funded. If there is cheating (which I do not expect), it won't be government-sponsored like it was in Russia.

Do we know for sure that Russian won't be able to compete in the team event as Olympic Athletes from Russia? It certainly sounds like the hockey team, etc. will be allowed to compete that way.

 

[caseyedwards]

TBH, I think IOC managed to find a very good solution for Russia. Name "Russia" is still included in the name of the team, clean Russian teams in various sports are allowed to participate...

This is not true. “Russia” will not be seen. What will be seen in OAR. It will stand for Olympic athlete from Russia but just like IAAF neutral uniforms said ANA Olympic uniforms will say OAR.

 

[DreamSkates]

How about for the figure skaters we advocate they play their long program music?

No, that wouldn't be relevant since the gold medal winner is accompanied by an anthem, so an international one (Olympic) would only be appropriate.

 

[VGThuy]

But everyone knows what that R stands for.

 

[reut]

Gorshkov says they will decide about the participation under the neutral flag after they get back from GPF, after December 10th:
http://tass.ru/sport/4786997

 

[caseyedwards]

There will be the ugly Olympic anthem played on if that's the case.

But Olympic anthem will be reminder Russia is banned so a good moment turns into horrible moment of shame and humiliation

 

[DreamSkates]

I hope Putin won't sink that low but he is capable of it. This is my biggest fear.

I may boycott watching the Olympics if there are no Russians in it. I would still be tempted to watch men's FS and ice dance but nothing else.

I am not going to boycott the Olympics because athletes knowingly participated in doping. However, I do think stripping of medals at Socchi should be enough along with very, very close monitoring of any and all athletes in the upcoming Olympics. On that note, the committee has to make a significantly strong statement for all current and future athletes.
And let's not think that it doesn't happen with other athletes...Lance Armstrong, for one.

 

[AxelAnnie]

WOW! I never thought that would happen! Holy Crap!!!

 

[Sylvia]

Gorshkov says they will decide about the participation under the neutral flag after they get back from GPF, after December 10th:
http://tass.ru/sport/4786997

Thanks! Google translated excerpt:

President of the Federation of Figure Skating Federation of the Russian Federation Alexander Gorshkov said that the Federation will discuss participation in the Olympic Games in a neutral status after December 10.

"By the coincidence of circumstances, our flight was delayed, and we learned about the decision of the IOC before departure," Gorshkov said. "Such a decision could be expected - so many conversations, passions heated." What and how will it be, the opportunity to speak in a neutral status? home, in Moscow, when we return from the competition. "

The tournament will end on December 10. "Now the Grand Prix final is our main goal, I wish our athletes luck and successful performances," Gorshkov said.

In the finals of the Grand Prix series will be singles Alina Zagitova, Maria Sotskova, Mikhail Kolyada, Sergei Voronov, sports couples Yevgenia Tarasova and Vladimir Morozov, as well as Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov. Evgeni Medvedeva, who was selected for the tournament from the first place, will miss the tournament due to injury. An athlete in the Russian delegation attended the IOC executive committee in Lausanne.

(I've edited a link to this translated quote of Gorshkov's into post #1 of this thread where I've tried to consolidate all the main news of today.)

 

[DreamSkates]

I hate the Olympics. They are always used as a political weapon. The USA and USSR were the worst, in destroying dreams of their own young men and women. I am afraid that Putin belongs to the same class.

If they do get to compete, I hope the Russian ladies will sweep the podium.

I despise the politics that are associated with the Olympics - and even in figure skating there is so much that goes on behind the scenes that affects outcomes for athletes. But, I enjoy many of the sports and support the efforts of the athletes that give so much to compete and further their own sport. There is a good side to the Olympics.

 

[caseyedwards]

But everyone knows what that R stands for.

It’s true but it’s not anything to be happy about.

 

[rfisher]

How about for the figure skaters we advocate they play their long program music?

They could just play Carmen. It's the figure skating anthem

 

[BlueRidge]

They could just play Carmen. It's the figure skating anthem

yes! I like this.

maybe we can start a petition...

 

[rfisher]

It’s true but it’s not anything to be happy about.

You can be unhappy and boo hoo all you want. The rest of us will cheer the Russian skaters along with all the other skaters and hope the best stand on the medal stands. Have fun whining.

 

[becca]

Because she humiliated Russia by competing as neutral and disavowing Russia flag and anthem and denounced her whole country.

If she goes its because her country and federation allowed it. She didn't do anything to humiliate Russia. It was the adults who participated in the cheating. If I were Russian I would be rooting for her and cheering her on.

She has always represented her country and sport with dignity and class. Any country would be proud to have her.

 

[Carolla5501]

I think some of us owe @caseyedwards an apology.

Why? Because she seems to insist that she has insider information on how Putin will act?

 

[caseyedwards]

Looks like no broadcaster in Russia will air olympics

http://tass.com/sport/979232

 

[chattila]

The way that I see it...this will give the Russian figure skaters (and athletes in other sports) even more incentive to win medals. Imagine if Russians win the most medals. They can boast: "Our medals may not have counted in the national tally but we have the most!"

Putin should tell his clean athletes: Go for it and show everyone who's #1!

Just curious if the Russian hockey team can compete as a collection of neutral athletes?

 

[Sylvia]

Do we know for sure that Russian won't be able to compete in the team event as Olympic Athletes from Russia? It certainly sounds like the hockey team, etc. will be allowed to compete that way.

Just curious if the Russian hockey team can compete as a collection of neutral athletes?

Russian hockey players must go to the Olympic Games - Kovalchuk: https://rsport.ria.ru/hockey/20171205/1129656432.html

"We must understand that the decision of the IOC is a pure policy and against whom it is directed. In principle, it was clear that such a decision would be made, but if the athletes go there, it will rally the country. All 'pure' athletes should go, for many it will be the last Games, and they will not have the opportunity to get to the Olympics," Kovalchuk told reporters.

"We, the sportsmen, are out of politics," added the hockey player, "for us it will be a responsible tournament, it will not be different from others." Patriotism, love of the country is in the heart. It is not necessary to shout or even carry a flag on your chest. God forbid, it will be possible to perform well, we will certainly sing a hymn."

From the IOC's press release linked in post #1:

"These invited athletes will participate, be it in individual or team competitions, in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)”. They will compete with a uniform bearing this name and under the Olympic Flag."

 

[Jarrett]

The way that I see it...this will give the Russian figure skaters (and athletes in other sports) even more incentive to win medals. Imagine if Russians win the most medals. They can boast: "Our medals may not have counted in the national tally but we have the most!"

Putin should tell his clean athletes: Go for it and show everyone who's #1!

Just curious if the Russian hockey team can compete as a collection of neutral athletes?

I really doubt that will be the impression. Even when those athletes winning medals were cleared to compete and not dopers they will still be lumped into that group of coming from a country with a massive doping scandal. The #1 doping scandal.

 

[chattila]

Looks like no broadcaster in Russia will air olympics

http://tass.com/sport/979232

They can do as we in the USA did for years - scramble to find free options, like Turkish TV, on the web.

 

[skatingguy]

Imagine if Russians win the most medals. They can boast: "Our medals may not have counted in the national tally but we have the most!"

Given what happened with the Russian team in Rio, I think we'll see a reduced presence compared with previous Winter Olympics. It will be interesting to see how the various sports are affected in terms of the Russian entries and who is allowed to compete.

 

[chattila]

USFS and NBC must be salivating at the prospect of the USA possibly winning silver in the Team Event...unless "The Team Formerly Known as Russia" can compete in the team event as OAR.

 

[skipaway]

USFS and NBC must be salivating at the prospect of the USA possibly winning silver in the Team Event...unless "The Team Formerly Known as Russia" can compete in the team event as OAR.

Won’t Team “Olympic Athletes from Russia” still win the gold medal?

 

[WildRose]

Won’t Team “Olympic Athletes from Russia” still win the gold medal?

Yup.

 

[casken]

Can they hold a contest for the "neutral" anthem like Eurovsion?

 

[caseyedwards]

You can be unhappy and boo hoo all you want. The rest of us will cheer the Russian skaters along with all the other skaters and hope the best stand on the medal stands. Have fun whining.

That’s not how the post was meant. It was about how putin said Neutral would be humiliation

If she goes its because her country and federation allowed it. She didn't do anything to humiliate Russia. It was the adults who participated in the cheating. If I were Russian I would be rooting for her and cheering her on.

She has always represented her country and sport with dignity and class. Any country would be proud to have her.

Yes If there is a huge flip flop by putin many would change opinion on neutral but not all

Why? Because she seems to insist that she has insider information on how Putin will act?

It was an article with direct quotes from putin about neutrality.

Russian hockey players must go to the Olympic Games - Kovalchuk: https://rsport.ria.ru/hockey/20171205/1129656432.html

From the IOC's press release linked in post #1:

"These invited athletes will participate, be it in individual or team competitions, in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 under the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia (OAR)”. They will compete with a uniform bearing this name and under the Olympic Flag."

They really don’t understand the anthem will be banned! No one could sing it! If they don’t accept this there’s going to be a problem!

They can do as we in the USA did for years - scramble to find free options, like Turkish TV, on the web.

I know many Russian cities have good internet connections but it’s not like US or western Europe



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[MsZem]

It’s true but it’s not anything to be happy about.

Neither is systemic cheating.

I feel for athletes like Voronov, who will probably never have another shot at the Olympics. Even under the best-case scenario, they'll never have the experience of representing their country as Olympians. If clean Russian athletes like Medvedeva win, they won't get to see their flag hoisted, or hear their national anthem.

But Russian cheating took that experience away from clean athletes in Sochi. This decision is just, and fair: it punishes the system responsible while letting the athletes compete as Olympians. That is an honor, and an opportunity that l hope they will have.