Screw the Olympics anyway.
IIRC, Russia, at least, has had to participate under a neutral flag in recent games due to their ongoing doping scandals anyway. Other than Belarus also competing under a neutral flag, what would substantially change?
What does it mean when you’re competing under a neutral flag?
it means you compete as an independent, neutral entity and not under your country’s flag so your country gets zero recognition for any achievements, only the individuals.
What does that matter?
An athlete from Russia would clearly be from Russia still?It reduces the prestige a nation can garner from success at the games. Think about all the soft power Russia accumulated at Sochi with their many wins thanks to their doping program.
How does that give Russia soft power?
It made Russia look powerful and resurgent to the outside world, which attracts other nations into their sphere of influence. It also is a distraction from rights abuses and political retaliation. Here’s an article about Saudi Arabia’s use of sports washing.
https://www.france24.com/en/20200102-saudi-uses-sports-soft-power-as-lever-of-influence
That influence is diminished when the whole world is reminded repeatedly that your athletes cannot compete under your flag.
It is obnoxious that Russia would be invited.
If you go back to the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece, it would be considered totally normal for countries to be competing peaceably at the Games one week, and slaughtering each other the next week. Funny how the ancient Greeks were more sophisticated, in a sense, than we are in the modern world.
They also competed naked.
Definitely a more sophisticated time.
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