The move is a significant step toward allowing Russian athletes to compete in the 2028 Olympic games in LA.
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has moved to provisionally lift its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, prompting reactions from Florida’s federal elected officials.
A statement provided by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott’s Office blasted the decision, which he called a “disgraceful failure to uphold Olympic values.”
Scott pointed to Russian strikes in Kyiv that have killed dozens of people in the last few days.
“The conditions of Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine have not changed; Vladimir Putin is still a thug, and his forces are still committing atrocities against Ukrainian civilians,” Scott wrote.
“The only thing that has apparently changed is the IOC’s willingness to take a principled stance against these atrocities — by pretending that the ongoing brutality can be separated from sport, the IOC has informed Russia and the world that you can bomb civilians one day and still proudly wave your flag at the Games the next.”
At a press conference, IOC President Kirsty Coventry justified the decision by arguing athletes shouldn’t “pay the price” or be “held accountable” for the actions of the Russian government.
“We don’t condone any wars, including this one. We will continue to support Ukraine like we have since this started,” Coventry told reporters.
The move opens the door to Russian athletes officially representing their country at the Olympics for the first time in a decade.
After Russia invaded Ukraine just days after the closing ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, Russian and Belarusian athletes were barred from competing under their country’s flag for the 2024 Paris Games and the Milan Cortina earlier this year.
Russian athletes were already sanctioned because of a massive state-sponsored doping scandal that came to light following the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Beginning with the 2018 games in South Korea, Russian Olympians have had to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes” without the Russian anthem and flag.
A statement released by U.S. Rep. Jimmy Patronis did not mention Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, but did take jabs both at Russia’s doping and California’s Democratic leadership.
“Team USA will dominate regardless of what nation stands against them or what doping they use to try to keep up. California has become a drug infested mess under Gavin Newsom, so the Russians should feel right at home for the competition. Regardless, I look forward to watching Team USA dominate when the Olympics return to American soil in 2028.”
The IOC said Tuesday it has not yet made a final decision about allowing the Russian flag and anthem. It is also possible only certain events will allow Russian athletes, because the individual sports federations dictate entry rules for their specific sports.
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