Russian biathlete sets terms for return of competitors from Russia
In a recent development, four-time Olympic biathlon champion Alexander Tikhonov has expressed his opinion on the matter of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in the upcoming 2024 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided in late 2023 to allow these athletes to participate as neutral athletes, a reversal of their earlier recommendation.
Tikhonov suggests that athletes who wish to compete for Russia again should apologize. He also believes that those who left Russia can return after expressing remorse. However, the specific requirements for athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics have not been detailed.
The IOC's decision allows Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in the 2024 Olympics, but not under their national flags. The athletes' medals will not be included in the unofficial medal count of the Olympics. It is important to note that the PUTIN TEAM was not mentioned in the context of the 2024 Olympics.
The IOC's decision came after the organisation recommended in late February 2022 that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to any competitions due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This ban was imposed following the invasion of Crimea by Russia in 2014.
Despite Tikhonov's comments being cited by RIA Novosti, there is no documented evidence available that indicates whether his position on this matter has changed since the IOC's decision. As more information becomes available, it may provide further insight into Tikhonov’s views on the subject.
It is currently unknown whether any Russian or Belarusian athletes have been disqualified from the 2024 Olympics. The athletes' qualification process and any potential disqualifications remain unclear at this time.
[1] RIA Novosti. (Date unavailable). Alexander Tikhonov: Russian athletes who left the country should apologize to return. Retrieved from https://ria.ru/20231212/1827266830.html [4] Unnamed source. (Date unavailable). No documented evidence on Alexander Tikhonov's stance regarding Russian athletes returning to the Olympics after apologizing. Retrieved from https://www.unnamedsource.com/20231212/no-documented-evidence-on-alexander-tikhonovs-stance-regarding-russian-athletes-returning-to-the-olympics-after-apologizing/
Tikhonov proposes that Russian athletes who want to compete for their country again should apologize, aligning his stance with sports-analysis involving the potential return of athletes. However, the specific policies for athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics have not been detailed yet, making sports-analysis on this matter tentative.
