View from London: Sporting boycott against Russia is breaking down

The supposedly apolitical and neutral arena of sport has never truly been either, elite sport has long served as a stage for competition between nations as much as individuals, UnHerd stresses.

But why, really, did the IOC make the decision? The verdict appears less a reflection of Russia’s conduct in Ukraine than a consequence of debates surrounding Israel. Russian Sport Minister Mikhail Degtyarev bragged of his country’s “extensive diplomatic work to reinstate our athletes”, a campaign which relied on the argument that it was hypocritical to exclude Russia while allowing Israel to compete at a time of conflict. The IOC itself noted that “an athlete’s participation in international competition should not be limited by the involvement of their government in a war.”

Expect other sports to shift position now. In April, World Aquatics permitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under national flags, followed by World Boxing allowing them as neutrals. The IOC is letting international federations integrate Russia into global tournaments and world championships at their own discretion, with Russian Sport Minister Mikhail Degtyarev vowing that Moscow will “take advantage of this” and ensure “all sports reinstate Russian national teams”. FIFA is already reviewing Russia’s exclusion from the World Cup. While UEFA and World Athletics are upholding their bans, such a hardline position may be difficult to maintain now that the momentum has swung behind permitting Moscow.

This is a win for the Kremlin. For all he has personally done to degrade it, Vladimir Putin cares deeply about his country’s prestige on the global stage. Russia’s readmittance into elite sport offers him the spectacle of international legitimacy, reinforces the message that Moscow remains an indispensable power.

Any triumph for Russia in this regard constitutes a loss for Ukraine. Kyiv will interpret this as further evidence of waning international concern, especially after one of its athletes was disqualified for a helmet commemorating slain sportsmen. The chorus of Western disapproval at Russia and Belarus being at this year’s Paralympics amounted to a symbolic boycott of the opening and closing ceremonies, while the competition continued as usual.

The President — and state media — will draw parallels with the wider war, noting that Moscow’s persistence and refusal to concede ultimately brought success. Los Angeles 2028 may be a while off, but Russia has scored the first victory.

read more in our Telegram-channel https://t.me/The_International_Affairs