Russian Deputy Sports Minister Alexei Morozov has lamented the change of sporting nationality of several Russian athletes. “The change of sporting citizenship of athletes is a loss for us. We want to develop athletes who will perform for our country,” Morosow told the TASS news agency. “We are in contact with every association, every single change leaves its mark.” However, the development is “not an avalanche situation,” he assured.
A total of 67 athletes have changed their Russian sports citizenship since the beginning of 2022, according to a release by the Russian Ministry of Sports on Friday. Among them are 47 athletes from Olympic summer disciplines and eight from Olympic winter sports.
penalties planned
Among them are prominent examples such as multiple European swimming champion Anastasia Kirpichnikova, who now represents France, and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist in rowing, Hanna Prakatsen, who now represents Uzbekistan. “We want the athletes to compete and perform as part of the Russian national team,” Morozov said. “But we don’t make enemies here, it’s a personal decision of every athlete.”
Turned their backs on their old sporting homeland: Ice dancers Diana Davis and Gleb Smolkin are now representing Georgia. : Image: picture alliance/dpa/TASS
In July, Dmitry Svishchev, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sport, prepared a bill that would oblige Russian athletes, especially national team members, to pay compensation in the event of a transfer. According to this, the costs incurred during the “sports training” should be paid by the athletes.
Christoph Becker Published/Updated: Recommendations: 21 A comment by Christoph Becker Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 55 Bernd Schwickerath, Düsseldorf Published/Updated: Recommendations: 8
“I think that those who are seriously considering such laws either do not have children who are active in professional sports in Russia, or they earn a lot and have no idea how much each parent has to invest in their child’s sport themselves, before it is included in the national team and the state starts spending money on them,” Russian ice dancer Gleb Smolkin criticized the planned punishment in an interview to the news portal “Sportexpress”.
“We don’t owe them anything anymore,” added Smolkin’s partner Diana Davis, who has been representing Georgia with him since the beginning of the year. You have already completely paid off everything that has been invoiced so far.
