A panel session was held at the Forum “Russia – Country of Sports”: “The Russian Olympic Movement. Challenges and Solutions”. It was attended by Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin, President of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov, Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Alexei Morozov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports Dmitry Svishchev and Director General of the ROC Vladimir Sengleev.

The session was opened by the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin.

The Russian Olympic Committee has always taken an active position on topical issues of the sports agenda. True, in this case, I would not separate the Olympic movement from the sports one, because we are talking about Russia as a great country of sports. An example of interaction between the ROC and the Ministry of Sports shows that only as a united team can we overcome the challenges that we will talk about today.

The direction of our work in modern conditions was clearly outlined by the President of the Russian Federation. We must actively protect the interests of athletes and national federations, create new competition formats, including through interaction with partners in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, and the CIS, in order to preserve the potential of our athletes and ensure internal competition.

Here are the heads of regional executive authorities in the sports field, presidents of federations, leaders of the Russian Union of Athletes and other public associations. This shows that we have huge potential.

I am sure that the global sports community will eventually realize the harm it is doing to itself by applying sanctions to Russian sports. Because there are very few reliable partners like Russia in the world,” Matytsin said.

Aide to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin emphasized:

At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, the President of the country made it clear that Russia will not fence itself off from the rest of the world. In sports, I think we must also remain committed to the principles formulated by Baron de Coubertin and enshrined in the Olympic Charter. Leaving the Olympic movement for some alternative formats would be a big mistake. This cannot be allowed.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov noted that the participation of Russian athletes in qualifying competitions and subsequent performance at the 2024 Games in Paris remains a priority option for the ROC.

The only way to keep the international Olympic movement in the form that its creators dreamed of is to distance themselves from politics. Based on the tone at the meetings that the IOC recently held with international sports federations, we can say that the information background imposed by the Western media no longer corresponds to reality.

The rhetoric of our colleagues has recently become more pragmatic. The realization comes to them that Russia is too big and important a sports power to be excluded from the Olympic movement. International sports organizations suffer serious financial losses due to the non-participation of Russian athletes in competitions. Therefore, it can be assumed that the IOC will try to rectify the situation as far as possible.

The ROC is doing everything possible for Russian athletes to take part in the qualifying Olympic competitions. It is important that Olympians are ready to join the fight for licenses for the 2024 Games as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Helping them do this is our top priority.

As for future plans and priorities, they are reflected in the draft ROC Development Strategy until 2028. We need to start working closely on the Olympic reserve right now, to prepare the foundation for a team that will go to the Olympics in Los Angeles in six years. And not just go, but take a place there in the top three. It is on the territory of a strong opponent that we must demonstrate our best qualities.

The draft ROC development strategy until 2028 was presented at the session by ROC General Director Vladimir Sengleev. The main goal of the ROC during this period will be to promote sustainable development and effective activities of ROC member organizations that create conditions for the qualitative development and realization of human sports abilities. The development of Olympic sports and mass sports, assistance in the preparation of the Olympic reserve in the medium term, promotion of Olympic ideals and values, Olympic education, international activities, legal support and anti-doping activities are identified as priority areas in the work of the ROC in the next six years.

Deputy Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Alexei Morozov noted that the state has all the necessary resources to ensure the training of athletes in the face of tough sanctions. He also noted that the “Program of preparation for the Games-2024” has been amended accordingly, which provide for plan A and B.

Athletes are now being trained on the territory of the Russian Federation and in friendly countries. We have analyzed the possibilities of the existing sports infrastructure, identified growth points and will move forward. The state has resources for this. In matters of inventory and high-tech equipment, the policy of import substitution will continue. You could see some examples of what we are currently working on together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade at the Forum venues. We are also trying to develop point production in order to cover not only the needs of national teams, but also the nearest reserve.

Said Alexei Morozov.

Dmitry Svishchev, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, noted that 16 different bills aimed at adapting sports to new conditions are in the area of ​​responsibility of his committee. Deputies of the State Duma are ready to provide the maximum possible support to our sports federations and protect athletes, at least at the legislative level.

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