The International Olympic Committee canceled Russia’s plans for the “Games of Friendship”.
Vladimir Putin dreams of the “Friendship Games”. PDO
President of Russia Vladimir Putin has stated his desire to organize the “Friendship Games” in September 2024 in Moscow and Yekaterinburg.
Based on the plans, the games sound almost like the Olympics. Russia is trying to attract there about 10,000 athletes from 137 different countries. In the games, there will be 27 different sports. Includes, for example, basketball, boxing, athletics, gymnastics and beach soccer.
The price for the Games would be more than 100 million euros. According to Putin’s plans, the games should be held every four years in the future – just like the Olympics.
Russia is apparently trying to organize its own “Olympics” in this way, because with these prospects, Russian athletes will probably not be accepted to the Paris Olympics next summer, because the country is still waging a brutal war of aggression in Ukraine.
President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach rejected the idea of the “Friendship Games” organized by Russia.
– The Russian government accuses us of not being politically neutral. At the same time, this same government is trying to organize a completely politicized sporting event, Bach stated.
Responsible for the Friendship Games Alexei Sorokin claims that sports people on the field want games where everyone can participate and where championships are decided without politics.
– The games should bring together countries that are ready to compete regardless of politics. The only criterion is the result. We are not replacing the Olympics. Rather, this event is a big addition to the world sports games, Sorokin assured.
According to the man, there will be big prize pools in the “Friendship Games”.
“Propaganda”
Professor at the Norwegian Sports Academy by Sigmund Loland in my opinion, the “Friendship Games” are just a mere propaganda tool to Vladimir Putin.
– Successful Russian athletes are used as examples of the superiority of the Russian system, says Loland NRK’s in the interview.
According to the man, the custom has been known since the time of the Soviet Union.
– Managers actively use sports success for internal propaganda. That is probably especially important now that Putin’s administration is dependent on popular support.
Doping danger
Director of WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency Olivier Niggli is worried about the “Friendship Games” because the Russian anti-doping agency Rusada does not follow WADA’s rules.
– We don’t know what their anti-doping program is like, if it even exists at the games. Or who is responsible for it, Niggli stated according to Reuters.
The man is worried about the athletes if the games are organized in a country whose national anti-doping activities do not comply with WADA’s regulations.
– How can athletes be confident that they are competing in a safe and fair environment?
The Soviet Union already organized the “Friendship Games” in 1984. They were an alternative to the 1984 Olympics, which were boycotted by the Eastern Bloc countries. At that time, more than 2,000 athletes from almost 50 countries participated in the Games.