MOSCOW, November 15. /TASS/. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has cautioned National Olympic Committees (NOCs) against participating in the World Friendship Games in Russia next year, as this would violate the global Olympic body’s recommendations, the InsideTheGames sports website reported on Wednesday.

"Considering the increasing politicization of world sport, we would ask that all NOCs exercise caution with respect to this initiative," the website quoted IOC Director of National Olympic Committees (NOC) Relations James Macleod as saying.

"Indeed, any NOC involvement in the World Friendship Games would not only go against the IOC EB's [Executive Board] recommendation of 25 February 2022 with respect to international sporting events being held in Russia but also against the Olympic Movement's collective aim of maintaining the independence and autonomy of sport," Macleod added.

IOC President Thomas Bach stated on June 22 that "the Russian government was going to hold politicized competitions."

Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed earlier in the year that in 2024, the first Summer World Friendship Games be held in the Russian capital of Moscow. Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin later announced that the BRICS Games and the World Friendship Games have nothing to do with politics and are in no way a condemnation of the IOC.

Reaction from Russian officials

Commenting on the IOC’s recommendation to the NOCs, Russian lawmaker Svetlana Zhurova told TASS the IOC simply realized that the World Friendship Games would enjoy great success and wanted to be a part of it.

"They accuse us of being politicized, but we have been barred from international competitions and we now come up with our own formats [of tournaments] and it is absolutely normal," Zhurova, who is also an Olympic champion in speed skating, stated.

"We are not usurping the world sports and let the IOC take a look at the NHL [US-based National Hockey League], which is a vivid example of how one league took the best players and for the most part they are playing there only to the detriment of the World Championships and the Olympic Games. However, the IOC challenges us only," she continued.

"The IOC certainly does not want the see the organization of BRICS Games, the World Friendship Games, because one way or the other most of the major tournaments are held under the patronage of the IOC while there is no coordination with the global organization in this case."

"They realize that we will have a large representation of international athletes, who will not be coordinating anything with the IOC, while our competitions will be of a great success," Zhurova said. "We offer excellent conditions, good prize-money rewards and I’m sure that our tournaments will be interesting for all athletes around the globe."

Yelena Vyalbe, the president of the Cross Country Ski Federation of Russia (CCSFR), said the IOC is afraid of losing its reputation on behalf of all athletes if Russia organizes the World Friendship Games.

Commenting on the IOC’s most recent recommendations, Vyalbe told TASS: "It proves once again that the IOC is the most politicized but not sports organization."

"All the IOC did in the recent years was just about making money, imposing sanctions on unfavorable parties and raising the bar for countries seeking to host the Olympic Games," Vyalbe continued. "But what exactly are they doing for athletes? Nothing!"

"We should not be paying attention to them, carry on with holding the World Friendship Games, BRICS Games, and leave them scratching their heads thinking how to regain their credibility and reputation," she added.

World Friendship Games organizers

The Organizing Committee of the 2024 World Friendship Games in Russia stated in a statement earlier in the day that it never set out to start a feud with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or hold competitions that go against the Olympic Movement.

"We are surprised by the tough position the IOC and some of its senior executives have taken with regard to the World Friendship Games being held in Russia," the statement reads. "Our goal was never confrontation with the IOC or holding competitions that went against the Olympic Movement."

IOC sanctions against Russia, Belarus

On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.

Following the IOC’s recommendations in late February 2022, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.

In late March, 2023, the IOC recommended to permit individual athletes from Russia and Belarus to take part in international sports tournaments, but only under certain conditions. Specifically, athletes from the two countries should not be "actively supporting" Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine and must compete under a neutral status. Russia and Belarus were also banned from participating in international team events.

On July 26, 2023, the IOC extended invitations to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris to 203 National Olympic Committees. Russia and Belarus did not receive invitations. The IOC explained later that there was no deadline regarding the issue of Russian and Belarusian athletes’ participation.

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games will be hosted by the French capital of Paris between July 26 and August 11.