The head of the FLGR will allow athletes to make an independent decision, but will not help those who refuse the flag.
Elena Vyalbe spoke on a number of topical issues related to the past season in cross-country skiing, and also talked regarding the prospects. The head of the Russian Ski Racing Federation considers the return to the international level on the terms of the International Olympic Committee unacceptable, and the athletes who agreed to the humiliating offer will become traitors to it.
But won’t Vyalba be disappointed by the country’s leading skiers?
“No Help”
In an interview with Match TV, Elena Vyalbe expressed her point of view on a number of topical issues. In addition to talking regarding prize money at domestic tournaments, the calendar, the motivation of leaders, such a topical topic as a possible performance at international tournaments without a flag was touched upon. Elena Valerievna did not talk regarding the “short age of athletes” or try to find some kind of compromise, but spoke out very categorically.
“I am for each person to decide for himself. But at the same time, I am deeply convinced that 99.99% of Russian athletes, in response to the requirement to fill out a refusal declaration and perform without a flag and an anthem, will answer “no,” Vyalbe is quoted by Match TV.
Since the President of the FLGR herself admitted that all 100% would not say “no”, the question arose of how the state should deal with those who agreed to the terms of the IOC. Elena Valeryevna did not make a decision for state structures, noting that she was a “little person.” But at the same time, she voiced how she herself would treat such athletes.
“For me, this someone will be a traitor and will not receive any help,” Vyalbe said.
Two bad choices
Vyalbe’s position is completely understandable. The IOC, taking discriminatory measures once morest the Russians, is killing the Olympic movement with its own hands, and it would be strange to justify this madness. Of course, in our country there are different opinions on this matter, and even among the leaders of national federations, not everyone is unanimous in completely rejecting the recommendations of Thomas Bach. Someone is ready for some concessions, and a number of public figures from the world of sports even believe that “we must go, even if in a neutral status.”
Some athletes, perhaps, will go somewhere in a neutral status – international federations have already begun to tempt Russians with invitations to tournaments, including world championships. However, judging by the mood of Vyalba, this does not threaten skiers. Really Alexander Bolshunov, Natalia Nepryaeva and other leaders of the national team will never once more go to the starts of the World Cup or the Olympic Games?
Potentially, every one of our ski stars and lesser-known skiers can expect to participate even if the position of the IOC does not change one iota in the coming months and even years. To do this, there are two bad options – change sports citizenship or go to the terms of the IOC, formally remaining “one’s own”. Which of these options is worse is debatable. For Vyalba, and perhaps for many Russian fans, such people will immediately move into the category, if not traitors, then little respected people.
“For what?”
But is it worth saying that one of our leading skiers will decide on this very betrayal? So far, there are no candidates for an unattractive role. Sergey Ustyugov, whom international sports officials have already “rolled” with one Olympics, will rather end his career than think regarding agreeing to the terms of the IOC. Veronika Stepanova was one of the first to sharply criticize Bach’s proposal. Alexander Bolshunov, too, seems to have gotten used to the idea that in the current conditions one can find motivation for oneself.
– The season went off without a hitch. At the beginning of the season, it seemed that we were running without international starts, everything was gone. But when the starts went, these thoughts were gone, many races were organized, ”Bolshunov shared his thoughts with Match TV.
Photo: © Dmitry Chelyapin / Match TV
Theoretically, it cannot be ruled out that one of the athletes will unpleasantly surprise Russian sports fans. But what motivation will make them try on the role of traitors? Beijing Olympic champion Veronika Stepanova has already popularly explained why our strongest skiers will not seek their fortune in a foreign land.
– Even if there is a Russian skier (biathlete, speed skater, Nordic, etc.) who agrees to the conditions of the IOC, he/she will be an absolute extra at the competitions themselves. In most winter sports, there are no investors who would invest in a young skier in the hope that she will sparkle under some obscure neutral flag. This also answers the question why none of our skiers of the national team level will change their citizenship. For what? In skiing, absolutely nothing shines for them in terms of podiums in isolation from our powerful team, – Stepanova wrote in a column for Match TV.
Of course, Elena Vyalbe understands all this, which allows her to be confident in the leaders, and also boldly assign the role of “traitors” to athletes who want to use the results of the work of the entire powerful team of the national team to solve some purely personal problems.
The federal TV channel Match TV broadcast live all the main competitions of the season in cross-country skiing in Russia, including the stages of the Russian Cup.
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