Olympics chief explains why Russias exile is not good for the sport and will do everything in her powers to see the nation make a grand return to the quadrennial show.
Incoming IOC president Kirsty Coventry has revealed that she will open talks to have Russia reinstated to the Olympics ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Only Russians competing as neutrals were allowed to take part in Paris 2024 as the Kremlin was punished for launching the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus, Russia’s ally, suffered the same measures.
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Coventry, who comes from Zimbabwe, will be the first female president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and its first African leader after seeing off competition from Lord Coe in Thursday’s election.
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The 41-year-old sports minister of her country wasted no time in making waves when she revealed her stance on banning countries from the Olympics over wars. As revealed by the Daily Mail, Coventry pointed out inconsistencies in the current approach of singling out Russia while there are conflicts on her own continent.
“We have conflicts in Africa and they’re horrific at the moment. So this is not going away, sadly. So how are we going to protect and support athletes? How are we going to ensure that all athletes have the opportunity to come to the Olympic Games?” she said.
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Although Coventry said she was against banning countries from the Olympics over conflicts, she maintained that each situation must be handled differently.
“I am, but I think you have to take each situation into account. What I would like to do is set up a taskforce where this taskforce tries to set out some policies and some guiding frameworks that we as the movement can use to make decisions when we are brought into conflicts.”
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Harambee Stars coach Benni McCarthy still has hopes of clinching a World Cup place despite a draw away to the Gambia as he looks to freshen up the team for Gabon on Sunday.
US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have held discussions about how sport can be used to defuse tension with the two leaders open to holding ice hockey matches between professional American and Russian players.
Coventry hinted at the possibility of Russian athletes representing their nation at the Winter Games in Milan with just 11 months left. “We’re going to have that discussion with a collective group …with the taskforce.”
Coventry will officially be appointed on June 24 to replace Thomas Bach.
