Kirsty Coventry opens up on Russia’s official return to Olympics

The new president of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry, had hinted in her inaugural speech that she was against the’exclusion of any country from the Olympic Games, even those at war.

The stance of Coventry, a 41-year-old Zimbabwean who won two gold medals at the Games in 200 backstroke swimming in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 and the first woman to head the International Olympic Committee, had restored hope to Russia, which was excluded from the Paris Games, where its athletes, as well as those from Belarus, had to compete without a flag.

“I am opposed, in principle, to any exclusion – Coventry said – however, I would like to form a task force that can establish guidelines, which will have to be clear and fair to all, to be used when deciding whether or not to allow countries involved in wars to participate in the Olympics”.

So it cannot be ruled out that Russia and Belarus could return to officially participate in the Games as early as next year, when the Winter Games will be held in Milan Cortina. “We will discuss this with the task force. Our priority is to protect the athletes: the balances are subtle, but for the movement I think it is best to ensure as full a representation as possible”.