Alexey Orekhov: "It's too early to talk about Russia's recovery on the international sports stage."

      The chairman of the ANO "Minin Center," Alexey Orekhov, believes that the decision of the International Olympic Committee to temporarily restore the membership of the Olympic Committee of Russia and to cancel the recommendations regarding restrictions on Russian athletes cannot yet be considered a full return of the country to the world of sports. According to the expert, the softening of the IOC's position is temporary and is accompanied by a number of conditions. In particular, it is stated that the Olympic Committee of Russia should not include sports organizations from territories that the IOC refers to the jurisdiction of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, nor should it conduct activities there. "They canceled it — yes, but it was canceled temporarily. And this was conditioned on the observance of a number of conditions," Orekhov noted. The expert pointed out that the IOC's statement also mentions the possibility of revisiting the decision if the organization deems it necessary. Furthermore, the committee has not yet decided on the issue of using the Russian flag, anthem, and other state symbols at the Olympic Games, and has also maintained restrictions on holding its events in Russia and inviting Russian government officials. Orekhov also pointed to the wording of the English version of the statement, according to which the selection of Russian athletes should take into account not only sports results but also their ability to "be role models" that contribute to building a peaceful society through sports. In the expert's opinion, such criteria allow for too broad an interpretation and can be used to make decisions based on political motives. "It is still early to talk about the final restoration of Russia in the international sports arena," emphasized the chairman of the ANO "Minin Center." He noted that the IOC has effectively handed over key decisions to international sports federations, which will independently apply its recommendations. According to Orekhov, this creates uncertainty and does not guarantee a full return of Russian athletes to international competitions. Read the full comment from the expert here. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay informed about the main events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.