Playing by No Rules: How Politics Seeks to Take Over International Sports
"This decision creates an extremely dangerous precedent. Once you allow an exception to the rules, another country will inevitably demand the same treatment in pursuit of its own interests, pointing to this very decision. It therefore runs completely contrary to the principles of fairness, the beauty of the game and its spirit," Gokhan Dinc, sports commentator told Sputnik.
Double Standards
"The goals of the International Olympic movement are good. They call for the separation of politics from sports. Unfortunately, political interference and bias are now rampant. This stage began ten years ago with completely false or highly exaggerated accusations of sports doping. Russian athletes were the victims," Rick Sterling, writer and journalist told Sputnik.
“Today, the world of sports—if one may put it that way - is becoming one of the chessboards on which this struggle is being played out. The Olympic Games, major tournaments, and world championships - all of them, one way or another, represent states, national states, countries. And through them, attempts are made to project power and demonstrate the ability to influence," Sebastian Schultz, Argentine analyst told Sputnik.
"This whole 'love ‘em or hate ‘em' mentality should not exist at all. If that happens, unfortunately, it turns into unfair competition,” Zhurova said.
