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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had an echo in sports. Since the spring of 2022, Russian – and in most cases Belarussian as well – athletes, national teams, and professional teams have been excluded from participation in international competitions. In other words, sports became one of the areas where sanctions against Russia worked. Thus, for example, Russian and Belarussian national ice hockey teams are not participating in the World Championship. However, Russian athletes can represent the professional teams of other countries, for instance, a lot of Russians play for NHL ice hockey teams in the US and Canada, and some footballers for Western European teams.
At the same time, there are some cases when the athletes from both „sanctioned countries” get a green light. So, in September World Aquatics allowed Russian and Belarussian athletes to compete as „individual neutral athletes” in international swimming competitions. One month later the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) was ready to say „yes” to the participation of the Russian national football team under-17 age in international competitions. But facing opposition from many national football federations, UEFA abandoned this intention.
Outrage at the IOC’s decision to let Russians compete as “neutral athletes”
The International Olympic Committee said in December 2023 that Russian and Belarussian athletes could participate in the Paris Olympics as „neutral athletes”, competing without the flag of their country, anthem, and colors.
In Latvia, this decision was not warmly welcomed. Many, including politicians, condemned it. The Latvian president Edgars Rinkevics said that the decision is not fair both from an ethical and a legal point of view. Rinkevics pointed out that some of these athletes are sponsored by entities that are sanctioned in the EU. The idea was echoed by the secretary general of Latvian Transatlantic Organization (LATO) Sigita Struberga, who told Veridica that one cannot be a „good” Russian or Belarussian sportsman only by refraining from openly supporting the war; when they accept the money from Russian state enterprises, they become complicit. Thus, the sanctions against these enterprises must relate also to sportsmen.
Latvian parliamentarians, on the other hand, sent a letter to the French president and the MPs urging them to consider banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from entering France. "In the doctrine of Russia's foreign policy, one of the directions of spreading its values is the use of so-called soft power in building relations with foreign countries. Sports is one of its uses. Russia uses the presence of ‘neutral’ athletes in international competitions in its state propaganda, which includes glorifying the aggressor's army and military recruitment promotion", the Latvian MPs wrote.
Latvia didn’t follow its criticism of the International Olympic Committee with a decision to boycott the Paris Olympics; for now, the Latvian Olympic Committee (LOC) said that there is no point in discussing a potential boycott. However, Latvia is coordinating with the other Baltic States, and a number of other countries, including Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, and they will all elaborate a joint position and opinion. As Latvian president Rinkevics said: „The decision on participation in the Olympic Games will be made a little later. I fully trust that the LOC and the committees of other like-minded countries will make the right choice. There is still time to work hard and do everything to change the IOC decision,” said the President.
Sigita Struberga explains that the opposition to Russian participation in the Olympics stems from the fact that the games are important for Moscow, which sees sports as „a meaningful source of the demonstration of the power […] The link between politics and sports is very strong. It is not correct to say that sports is just a sport and it does not have any connection with politics […] the Olympics have always been a symbol of soft power”. However, not all countries feel that way, and some are sympathetic with Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. There’s also a third view, that the Olympics are a symbol of peace.
Some Latvians support a boycott, while others feel that it’s not fair to miss the games over Russia
So far, reactions of Latvian athletes to the IOC decision have been mixed. Some choose to remain silent, some said that they will not go to Paris if Russians and Belarussians are there, while others expressed a desire to participate.
"I think that the IOC's decision is not correct and somehow we, as athletes, can do something about it”, Naurius Miezis, Olympic champion with the 3x3 basketball team said, while race walker Arnis Rumbenieks announced that he would not participate as “ethical norms are higher in our family. There is nothing to share with such a neighbor [as Russia]”.
Nevertheless, most athletes remain silent or express the hope that the IOC will change its decision. “I think that this is a question for the Latvian government and LOC. It will be a collective decision, not only from Latvia but from the entire world, especially Western countries. It is a difficult decision for an athlete, who does not want to lose the chance to participate in the Olympic Games,” weightlifter Arturs Plesnieks told Latvian newspaper “Latvijas Avize”, adding that, although as a human he wants to boycott the Olympics, as an athlete he would love to win a medal.
Rider Kristaps Neretnieks, who competes in show jumping, is among those that feel that Latvian athletes must participate in the Olympics. “Should I, as an athlete, suffer from Russia's extended war in Ukraine, and will we achieve anything by boycotting the Games? No. I believe that athletes from Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania should proudly bring their flags to the Olympic stadium and fight in such a way that our anthems are played in Paris” wrote Neretnieks, who thinks that boycotting the games would clear the way to victory for others, including those participating under neutral flags.
No athlete has expressed open support for the IOC’s decision to allow some Russians and Belorussians to participate in the Olympics.
As for the public, according to the research done by Latvian public media “lsm.lv” and research centre “Norstat” most people do not support the potential boycott. However, there’s a catch: the research found that more support for participation among ethnic Russians and other nationalities living in Latvia, with more than half of respondents in both groups saying that Latvian athletes should compete even if there are Russians and Belarusians there. Among Latvian ethnics, only 18% think that athletes must definitely compete together with Russians and Belarussians. 17% rather think that they should participate, 20% have a neutral position, 17% rather think they should not participate and 20% are sure that the Paris Olympics must happen without Latvians if there are Russians and Belarussians.
All options are still on the table
Sports journalist Ilmars Sturiska points out that many wait for the Ukrainian response. He thinks that Kiyv will choose to participate and Latvia will follow suit. He offers another reason why Latvians would probably go to Paris: both sportsmen and officials want it.
These Olympic games could be special for Latvia because the men’s national basketball team has a good chance to play in the Olympics for the first time in the history of Latvian basketball history. There is still a qualification tournament to play, but after coming fifth in the World Championships 2023 there are lot of hopes for the Latvian fans – and basketball is one of the most popular sports in the country. To play or not play if the national team gets a chance – even sports fans have arguments on internet media platforms. Sturiska notes that the basketball community believes that „because of some Russians, we should not lose the unique chance to shine with our sports team in the Olympics”.
LATO Secretary General Sigita Struberga personally feels that Latvians should not participate in Olympics, but she understands that it is very hard to take such a decision. “If I had a chance as a sportswoman, I would not compete with anyone who is under Russian, Belarussian or any other flag,” she says. “But I understand that people are different and athletes have worked a lot to be in Paris. There are no simple answers”.
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