Matytsin called plans to limit athletes from Russia “media stunt”

Information about the EU’s plans to impose restrictions against Russian athletes is a “media trick,” said the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports Oleg Matytsin on the air of the Tamantsev program. In the end, on RBC Radio.

Last week, Politico, citing documents from the European External Action Service, reported that countries were discussing the imposition of sanctions against Russian athletes. Among the measures, according to the publication, visa restrictions and reduction of funding for federations that allow Russian athletes.

According to Matytsin, the European Union is not responsible for financing international sports federations. “I can say that it seems to me to be a media stunt. The EU does not fund any federations. I may be wrong, but I do not know that the European Union provides grants to international federations for the implementation of certain programs. Maybe it is, but I’m not sure if it’s a global or decisive factor, he said.

Another measure under discussion, according to Politico, is pressure on broadcasters and sponsors to refuse to support tournaments with the Russians. The economy, Matytsin said, sometimes depends on politics, but companies pay for TV rights and are not interested in getting an "uncompetitive picture." "I don't think they're interested in that," he said.

RBC launched a special project - "Autumn Marathon". Let’s look at the sports industry from different angles: from the funding of federations to sales of sports equipment, corporate health programs and investment attractiveness of sports projects. On October 22, at 14:00 Moscow time, a direct line with the Minister of the Government of Moscow, the head of the sports department of Moscow Alexei Kondarantsev will be held on the air of RBC and Radio RBC. Send questions to the hotline through the form on the site.

After the start of the military operation in Ukraine in 2022, the IOC recommended not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions. In 2023, the organization gave athletes the opportunity to compete in neutral status in individual sports. Despite the recommendations of the IOC, not all international federations have taken appropriate decisions.

In the Kremlin after the publication of Politico said that Russia will continue to oppose the politicization of sports. “This does not fit with the ideas of Olympism, it does not fit with the general understanding that sports should be outside politics,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president.