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

[rfisher]

I don't think there's any issues with the Russian's qualifying. This has all been worked out and an NPR report I heard today suggests it was worked out sometime ago. I think people can let this go and start thinking about the competitions.

Young ladies can't handle it? Seriously? Have you seen Eteri's Tigresses? They'd be the least of my worries. Those kids are raised on competition. They'll be fine.

 

[Sylvia]

Since OAR technically did not earn any spots for the Olympics, can we assume that ISU will issue a clarification that the number of spots in each event earned by Russia are transferable to OAR? And if so, will Russian Nats still be the qualifier, since the Russian federation cannot choose it's own athletes?

From IOC's official press release yesterday: IOC SUSPENDS RUSSIAN NOC AND CREATES A PATH FOR CLEAN INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN PYEONGCHANG 2018 UNDER THE OLYMPIC FLAG

How the athletes will be chosen: <snip>

• This panel will be guided in its decisions by the following principles:
  1. It can only consider athletes who have qualified according to the qualification standards of their respective sport.

 

[JeffClair1979]

But, and please don't anyone get overly snarky with me....

Athletes in Figure Skating do not qualify, countries do. The Oly Team for Russia hasn't been selected yet, so that's where my brain is having trouble reconciling how this is going to work.

Will there be a separate "OAR" comp where the IOC selects the teams? Or will the IOC simply allow Russia to "nominate" the teams/skaters and have them approved?

 

[Madhatter]

NYT is trying to push “Russia got off easy” narrative!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/sports/olympics/russia-olympics-longman.html

Russia did get off easy.

That said, I hope Med will choose to go. I'm not much of a fan of most Russian skaters (since Pogo is unlikely to make it anyway), but winning in Med's absence wouldn't be quite the same as actually winning.

 

[Sylvia]

Or will the IOC simply allow Russia to "nominate" the teams/skaters and have them approved?

This is what I am assuming will happen.

On a happy note, I've been informed that Russian Nationals is supposed to be live streamed by ESPN(3?) again.

 

[VGThuy]

I guess since Russia is still recognized as an ISU member, the ISU will have the Russian Fed to select athletes to compete as OARs as if they were selecting skaters for the Russian team.

 

[Madhatter]

But, and please don't anyone get overly snarky with me....

Athletes in Figure Skating do not qualify, countries do. The Oly Team for Russia hasn't been selected yet, so that's where my brain is having trouble reconciling how this is going to work.

Will there be a separate "OAR" comp where the IOC selects the teams? Or will the IOC simply allow Russia to "nominate" the teams/skaters and have them approved?

Well. I'm talking out of my ass here but since Med won the latest Worlds - and she's OAR, then OARs should get 3 ladies spots. Obviously back then she was from Russia, but I suppose some concessions to practicality and Earth logic wil, have to be made. If they're "athletes from Russia" then perhaps top 3 athletes from Russia as determined by Russian Nationals/ ISU World Standings/ISU Season Standings? (Personally and selfishly, I'm kinda hoping for World Standings because then Pogo would get to go, even though I'd have to suffer through Sotskova for sure).

 

[rfisher]

This is what I am assuming will happen.

On a happy note, I've been informed that Russian Nationals is supposed to be live streamed by ESPN(3?) again.

Yes, it's ESPN3! Yea! I hope @Eislauffan and Ari will be doing commentary again.

 

[ChelleC]

Also there is no certainty that they will get to go. There is nothing official from Russia saying one way or the other.

In case you missed it, Vladimir Putin, you know the President of Russia, has said there will not be an official boycott of the Games.

Russia is more than likely going why else would the IOC have ordered neutral uniforms.

 

[Deleted member 19433]

I guess since Russia is still recognized as an ISU member, the ISU will have the Russian Fed to select athletes to compete as OARs as if they were selecting skaters for the Russian team.

I assume it will pretty much work out equivalently (e.g., that OAR will get the same number of spots as RUS earned and Russian Nationals will be primarily used to determine the team), but technically the Russian Fed can't select them directly, per this quote. The panel described might end up just rubber stamping their recommendations though.

The invitation list will be determined, at its absolute discretion, by a panel chaired by Valerie Fourneyron, Chair of the ITA. The panel will include members of the Pre-Games Testing Task Force: one appointed by WADA, one by the DFSU and one by the IOC, Dr Richard Budgett.

 

[rfisher]

The submission is by application. Each individual skater will submit an application. If they are clean, they can go. Russia will determine which skaters they'll send (or who will apply) and that will be based on Russian nationals/Europeans criteria just as it has always been. The IOC isn't going to determine the athletes of the different events. That's what their individual sports do and they vary widely depending on the sport. The NPR report I heard said those athletes, for example figure skaters (that's the example they used), submit an application. If their drug testing is clean, they can compete. I think the only way there wouldn't be 3 ladies, or pairs, or 2 men or dance teams would be if 3, 3, 2 and 2 didn't meet the drug testing qualification. I don't think that's likely.

 

[Dave of the North]

I think that the fact that Navka also encouraged Russian athletes to go to PyeongChang on her Instagram is also important and telling (since she is Putin's press secretary's wife)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcWtfhpFFWK/?hl=ru&taken-by=tatiana_navka

When I read this quickly I though it said she was Putin's secret wife...

 

[skatepixie]

The falling popularity is a function of not winning. I am certain there would be a spike in popularity if the US won, particularly for the ladies.

Men winning an OGM in figure skating will not be a lucrative as for women in the US because of the characteristics of the US market.

True. Though I think even if one of the US girls did win, the market has shrunk and they would not have the levels of income that Kristi and Michelle did, you know?

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Of course they are happy to compete against Russian skaters that are demoralized, embarrassed, and very likely booed by the fans at the Olympics. If the GPF was anywhere outside of Japan, same thing could have happened but the Japanese are classy people.

i will stick to my opinion. You are hair splitting. I am sure the nonRussian athletes will derive energy and pleasure when they see their opponents humiliated by the public. The Olympics are like a war.

They died for me long ago, but I kept focusing on the enjoyment I derived from watching the athletes. I am likely to feel differently from now on. I won't be sitting on my sofa, glued to the TV during these Olympics, and the next ones are too far in the future.

Oh FFS - take your meds, Shelby (irony of that comment on multiple levels noted).

 

[caseyedwards]

Well. I'm talking out of my ass here but since Med won the latest Worlds - and she's OAR, then OARs should get 3 ladies spots. Obviously back then she was from Russia, but I suppose some concessions to practicality and Earth logic wil, have to be made. If they're "athletes from Russia" then perhaps top 3 athletes from Russia as determined by Russian Nationals/ ISU World Standings/ISU Season Standings? (Personally and selfishly, I'm kinda hoping for World Standings because then Pogo would get to go, even though I'd have to suffer through Sotskova for sure).

Great that so much is still left to do! Too bad they couldn’t have gone sport by sport and announced what was to happen yesterday.

When I read this quickly I though it said she was Putin's secret wife...

He has one of those!

Russia did get off easy.

That said, I hope Med will choose to go. I'm not much of a fan of most Russian skaters (since Pogo is unlikely to make it anyway), but winning in Med's absence wouldn't be quite the same as actually winning.

But it’s competing so abnormally and people really don’t even know if the IOC commission that will approve athletes will actually approve any.

 

[Vagabond]

It looks like some therapeutic use of chlorpromazine should be the order of the day.

And for some others, a nice cup of chamomile tea would do.

 

[skatemomaz]

And for some others, a nice cup of chamomile tea would do.

your avatar is killing me.

 

[BrightSkates]

For those who thinks that getting TUE is easy - read the WADA rules. I had to. For example to get TUE for exercise induced asthma athlete need to go though a special exertion test on a special equipment with a specially approved doctor. All the documentation measuring athlete vitals had to be submitted for the review and approval. It's not easy at all. My daughter had to do it at age 9 not for WADA but to get diagnosed and she had asthma attack during the test that's why doctor had to be ready to administer first aid. She gets her lungs tighten up in the first 5-7 min doing light stroking on the ice. We tried really hard not to use inhaler but it's not possible. Even after using inhaler it's not easy. She will never know what it would feel to skate a program with normal functioning lungs. So many variables goes in affect if it works or not - time of the year, allergies, temperature and humidity on the rink, if there is a good ventilation or not. It's always a gamble on the competitions. She might get asthma attack during event warm up. Skating right after attack is a big challenge because body goes limp for a while. Being asthmatic and using inhaler is not an advantage. You could see how long it took Yzuru to find a way to deal with his asthma. Plus I believe that spending long hours on the ice and inhaling all these zamboni fumes after ice cut and God knows what else is hardly healthy and can actually cause asthma development. The worse is when they cut to level edges next to the board. They use some diesel equipment and it leaves layer of ash on the surface! I wish there would be research and some control of the air quality at rinks. But many rinks don't eve have ventilation! Working many years as a coach I developed asthma. I also believe I'm allergic to something on the rink (probably mold) because the minute I get on the ice my nose runs like crazy and my throat burns wild. For the last 10 years I permanently has sore throat every day and my voice is coarse and sometime gone completely. I think banning athletes, particularly figure skaters, from using inhalers is not fair as they may have developed asthma because of the rinks in the first place. Just my experience with the matter...

 

[Amantide]

Young ladies can't handle it? Seriously? Have you seen Eteri's Tigresses? They'd be the least of my worries. Those kids are raised on competition. They'll be fine.

My Yulenka couldn't.
Doesn't matter how strong you are. We're humans and young is well...young. Sometimes it is too much.
I wish them from the bottom of my heart all the luck and strength they can get. Good thing is there is still time till the Olys. I hope things get easier or at least they get used to it.

 

[skatepixie]

Well. I'm talking out of my ass here but since Med won the latest Worlds - and she's OAR, then OARs should get 3 ladies spots. Obviously back then she was from Russia, but I suppose some concessions to practicality and Earth logic wil, have to be made. If they're "athletes from Russia" then perhaps top 3 athletes from Russia as determined by Russian Nationals/ ISU World Standings/ISU Season Standings? (Personally and selfishly, I'm kinda hoping for World Standings because then Pogo would get to go, even though I'd have to suffer through Sotskova for sure).

I don't want to put Pogo through that -- or put the fans through that. Our hearts can't take it.

 

[Lanie]

I wonder if @Vash01 talking about booing at the Olympics which hasn't even happened yet watched any of the behavior at Sochi of the audience, with the screaming of Russia Russia Russia, booing non-Russians, cheering only the Russians, mostly silent for the non-Russians. That must have been demoralizing and mind fcuky for the skaters, no? But it's cool 'cause Russia? I've never seen such a partisan, nasty crowd as I did at Sochi. It turned me off to watching most of those Olympics honestly.

 

[barbarafan]

If any of them have Sjögren's syndrome, then by all means, take prescribed drugs to treat it. Autoimmune diseases can be quite serious. Please don't make assumptions about what I think. FYI, Evgenia is my favourite ladies skater along with Kaetlyn O, I really like all the Russian junior ladies, Dmitri Aliev, several of the junior dance teams, etc.

Lala have you ever looked up her disease to see the symptoms of her disease? Have you looked the severe side effects of these drugs?

 

[WildRose]

I wonder if @Vash01 talking about booing at the Olympics which hasn't even happened yet watched any of the behavior at Sochi of the audience, with the screaming of Russia Russia Russia, booing non-Russians, cheering only the Russians, mostly silent for the non-Russians. That must have been demoralizing and mind fcuky for the skaters, no? But it's cool 'cause Russia? I've never seen such a partisan, nasty crowd as I did at Sochi. It turned me off to watching most of those Olympics honestly.

I sat with some Russian folks during the Men’s event at the Vancouver Olympics and they were great. I remember they were so positive that Plushenko would win before he even skated. I still remember the shock on their faces when he didn’t, but they weren’t rude about it and I felt bad for them. I was glad I had the chance to meet them and so many others from all over the World. Actually now that I think about it the only rude fans I saw were some Japanese uber fans who were trying to sneak into someone else’s seats in the lower bowl, but I have been to enough Worlds to know all countries have fans like that

 

[overedge]

Men winning an OGM in figure skating will not be a lucrative as for women in the US because of the characteristics of the US market.

It's never been as lucrative for the men as it has been for the women.

 

[barbarafan]

You are correct. Although prednisolone is a steroid, it is not an anabolic steroid.

one thing that prednisone does do is dissolve your muscles so sport is a problem.

 

[Lanie]

I sat with some Russian folks during the Men’s event at the Vancouver Olympics and they were great. I remember they were so positive that Plushenko would win before he even skated. I still remember the shock on their faces when he didn’t, but they weren’t rude about it and I felt bad for them. I was glad I had the chance to meet them and so many others from all over the World. Actually now that I think about it the only rude fans I saw were some Japanese uber fans who were trying to sneak into someone else’s seats in the lower bowl, but I have been to enough Worlds to know all countries have fans like that

I figure those folks were actually skating fans. We all tend to cheer for everyone don't we?! I've heard that a lot of the people at the arena in Sochi were not really skating fans, just there to cheer on their team. I mean, watch Yuzu's SP--some guy screaming Russia to screw with him while he gets into his starting position, and people cheer and hoot and holler and go with it. I've never seen such behavior before!

 

[overedge]

I don`t know about the other meds, but frankly I don`t think Prednisolon would be helpful for performance. It weakens the immune system and reduces muscle mass as side effects. From experience I can also tell you, that it makes you very, very tired.

Taking prednisone can cause extreme mood swings, and excessive hunger. It is very easy to gain a lot of weight very quickly while taking prednisone. That particular drug would not be a performance enhancer at all.

 

[barbarafan]

Cheers to Russian/OAR figure skaters going to the Olympics. Sorry, Japan, USA and Canada.

Your first sentence is good. your 2nd sentence is crap. Why would you assume that Japan,usa and Canada would not want Russians to compete.

 

[WildRose]

It's never been as lucrative for the men as it has been for the women.

That’s because a Canadian man has never won it.

 

[misskarne]

Why would you say that? The US Track and Field folks are anti doping. The USOC is anti doping. And for the most part, AMERICANS are anti doping. We want CLEAN sport.

Yes, so anti-doping and so pro-clean sport that you shamelessly had multiple convicted dopers - some caught more than once - running for you at the Olympics without a whimper of protest, and if they were clean I'll eat something inedible. Come on. This is the sort of hypocrisy that's pissing me off about this.

I'm glad that no boycott will likely take place and the skaters can go. It would have been a much poorer Olympics without them.