Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has insisted that the country’s flag appearing at major sporting events should be “normal” and called on International Federations to unite to ensure sport is “out of politics”.
Oleg Matytsin when attended the Opening Ceremony of the International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Championships in New Delhi said, “Russian flag at global events should be “normal”.
Meanwhile, Russian and Belarusian athletes are being allowed to compete without any restrictions on national symbols in the IBA Women’s World Championships Opening Ceremony in New Delhi.
Build-up to the World Championships has been marred by a series of withdrawals from national governing bodies over the participation of Russian and Belarusian boxers.
The United States, Britain and Ukraine are among a number of National Federations that chose to boycott the event in protest of Russia and Belarus’ presence in the Indian capital.
Athletes from the two countries have been largely banned from international competition since the IOC urged sporting organisations last February to bar them from events in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine
The IBA caused controversy last October when it agreed to lift the ban, allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and for the anthems to be played in contrary to the IOC’s recommendations.
Diana Pyatak, making her debut at the Women’s World Championships, was given the responsibility of carrying the Russian flag which she waved in front of the crowd at the 6000-seater K.D. Jadhav Indoor Hall.
“I think for every country it is important the you present the country with all symbols, including the flag,” Matytson told insidethegames.
“I think it should be normal – it’s Olympic values.
“We are, of course against any politicisation and discrimination.”