from The Athletic,
It appears unlikely that Russia (or Belarus) will be reinstated while the war continues. Sweden, Finland and Czechia (among the top European nations) have made it known that they’d withdraw from any competition if Russia or Belarus is allowed back in....
One thing that was clear over the past several weeks as The Athletic spoke with Russian athletes around the NHL: While the war and the politics of being a Russian living outside Russia during it are conversational nonstarters, the reality of losing the opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest stage is emotional.
This was a dream for these athletes — the same as it was for Canada’s Connor McDavid or the United States’ Auston Matthews.
“(Kucherov) is like 30 now and he never was in the Olympics and he’s one of the best hockey players in the world,” Kaprizov says. “It’s hard for him, and I think it’s hard for everybody. We have to watch on TV as other NHL guys play in these international tournaments.
“To think I may never get to again and some of my friends from Russia may never — it just doesn’t seem fair.”
much more
NO
Politics and sports must be separated imo. Should have our country be banned from Olympics after we attacked Iraq? If not, what's the difference?
I'm not of the opinion Russian athletes should be banned for this war. I do think Russian leadership should be banned from attendance, though.
The thing is, if it's not one thing it seems to be another. The doping scandal a few years ago was an incredibly successful execution of cheating that they found a way to get away with. Honestly, it's lucky they were discovered (do watch the film Icarus if you can, it's a fascinating look into what Russia did and how they were caught). But it leads me to think, what else are they doing that we haven't discovered?
Does this mean they should be banned from international competition? No, but I do think they should be given a short leash. Fool me once, shame on me; fool me twice...
The article also brings up the issue of player safety. The games are taking place in Italy, which isn't exactly a hockey hotbed, and Russians might draw the ire of the locals (and, I imagine some athletes).
The article also didn't say they SHOULD be allowed to play, just how much it sucks for those who can't go, and what a complex situation it is for everyone involved. At the end of the day, tho, it's a no brainer to not allow Russian athletes (and I'm not a fan of the OAR idea, either).
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