The Russia Problem

Russia has competed under three different names at the last four Olympics.  They were "Russia" in Rio and "OAR" in PyeongChang, then "ROC" in both Tokyo and Beijing.  With about a year and a half to go until the Paris Games, the question isn't just what Russia will be called.  It's whether they'll be there at all.

The reason for all the name changes, of course, is because of the sophisticated state-run doping system that was in place when they hosted the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi (as well as the 2013 Track & Field World Championships in Moscow).  The IOC's slap-on-the-wrist "sanctions" led to a ban on the Russian flag and anthem at the 2018 Games, as well as the not-at-all ambiguous designation "Olympic Athletes from Russia." 

After more details emerged, Russia received a harsher penalty, a four-year ban on the flag and anthem that also included the recommendation that international federations either not schedule events in Russia or, if possible, move ones that have already been awarded out of the country.  Approved Russian athletes were also not allowed to wear any National Team colors or mention the country's name at all.  That punishment, which was later reduced to two years, resulted in the team being referred to as "ROC" for "Russian Olympic Committee" (but only by the abbreviation) at both the 2020 and 2022 Olympics.

Those doping sanctions expired at the end of December, so Russian athletes, in theory, able to actually represent the country again.  Except they're still not.  Because of the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia (and its ally Belarus) have either been banned from international competition altogether or only allowed to compete as neutrals for almost a year.

There was an immediate impact to that decision.  Russian and Belarusian players were prohibited from entering Wimbledon last year, resulting in the Grand Slam tournament being stripped of ranking points.  More significantly, the Russian men's soccer team was disqualified from World Cup qualifying before the final round of the UEFA playoffs, and the women's team was still in the middle of its qualifying campaign for this year's World Cup.  Likewise, the Russian hockey team was removed from the top division at the Ice Hocky World Championships, and this year's tournament, which was originally scheduled for Russia, was moved to Finland and Latvia.  UEFA has moved several events out of Russia, as well. 

Meanwhile, World Athletics completely paused its "Authorized Neutral Athlete" program that has allowed approved Russians to compete internationally while the country's federation is suspended (Russia's track & field suspension started in 2015).  Belarusian athletes were also banned because of the invasion, and neither nation was allowed to enter anyone at either the World or European Championships last summer.

Since the Russian doping sanctions and the Russian suspension about the war overlapped in 2022, it didn't cause much of a ripple outside of Russia.  However, now that the doping sanctions have expired, the IOC and the international federations have a very unique situation on their hands.  They have to figure out what to do about Russia.  And the solution is definitely not going to satisfy everybody!

Everyone is still trying to figure out what to do, and there really is no right answer.  Since most of the West is opposed to any sort of Russian involvement in global sports until the war's over, and the war doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon, Russian athletes are in a state of flux.  Some may support the war, but many do not and have been outspoken about it.  Do they deserve to be punished for the actions of their nation's political leaders?  (Although, a very reasonable counterargument would be why should any Russians be allowed to compete while Ukranian athletes had to flee their homeland and haven't been able to return?)

IOC President Thomas Bach has been very clear that he thinks politics and sports should be kept separate (although, that's virtually impossible).  He lived through the 1980 and 1984 Olympic boycotts and doesn't want any athletes to pay the price for political reasons.  So, he'd like to see Russians in Paris.  Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, doesn't think any Russians or Belarusians should be allowed in Paris.  He has called for the ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes to continue until the Russian army is out of his country.

Is Zelenskyy biased?  Of course!  As such, his views should obviously be taken with a grain of salt.  But, there are a lot of people who agree with him, especially other European leaders.  So, again, we're at an impasse.  Russia is a part of the European federation in every sport.  So is Ukraine.  It's pretty clear which side the rest of Europe supports in this conflict.  So, it seems unlikely Russia will be welcomed back into the European fold anytime soon.

However, all indications are that Russia will send a team to Paris next summer.  Those Russian athletes need a chance to qualify, though.  If they can't do that through Europe, that's obviously a problem.  Especially since qualifying in some sports begins fairly soon.  That's where the interesting compromise comes in.  A compromise that, not surprisingly, not everyone is thrilled about.

While Russia is considered part of Eastern Europe culturally and most of the Russian population lives on the European side, let's not forget, most of the country is in Asia.  And Asian nations have been much more willing to accept Russian athletes.  So willing, in fact, that they've offered Russians the opportunity to participate in Asian Olympic qualifiers, starting with the upcoming Asian Games in China (which is one of the 14! countries that neighbors Russia...yeah, it's THAT big!).

Geographically, it makes complete sense.  Although, Russia isn't a part of the Asian federation in any sport, so I'm not sure how it would work otherwise.  If the Asian and European federations both sign off, I'm sure the IOC wouldn't oppose it, but would it be on a sport-by-sport basis?  I think it'd either have to be all or nothing.  Either their teams and individual athletes participate in Asian qualifying in every sport or none of them.

It's not the perfect solution.  But, unfortunately, the perfect solution to this very complex problem doesn't exist.  It'll obviously be an issue for some to see any Russian athletes competing anywhere while the war in Ukraine continues.  I totally get that.  I, personally, have no issue with this plan, though.  It gives Russians the opportunity to qualify while not making European athletes face them.

If the last three Olympics (PyeongChang, Tokyo, Beijing) have taught us anything, though, it's that the IOC will do everything in its power to make sure there's a Russian team (in some form) in Paris.  Not only is Russia too important to the Olympic movement (hence the very weak "penalties"), it'd be setting a very dangerous precedent to keep them out for political reasons.  So, as unfair as it may seem and as much as some countries might not like it, Russia will be there.  And, whether it's through Europe or Asia, they'll get their opportunity to qualify.