The press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, assessed the necessity of dialogue between Russian athletes and international organizations during the broadcast of the "Vesti" program.
Peskov stated that dialogue is essential for Russians to participate in international tournaments. He emphasized that the benefits are evident, as seen in the case of allowing domestic swimmers to compete in the short course World Championships. However, the press secretary added that Russia's positions and those of international organizations on several issues can be diametrically opposed.
Previously, the Director of Communications for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mark Adams, mentioned that the organization will continue to assist Russian athletes in competing in international events under a neutral status. Specifically, World Aquatics has relaxed the eligibility criteria, allowing domestic athletes to participate in the short course World Championships.
Since the end of February 2022, the majority of Russian athletes have been suspended from tournaments based on the IOC's recommendations. Some athletes have been granted the opportunity to compete on the world stage with a neutral status.