Degtyarev pointed to the international community's support for equality in sports

The international sports community has begun to actively support the principle of equality for all athletes of the countries. This was announced on May 21 by the Minister of Sports, Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee Mikhail Degtyarev.

"More and more countries are convinced that everyone should be equal in sports," he said during the conference "Development of International Sports Cooperation."

According to Degtyarev, the winner of sports competitions should be determined only by the finish line or the outcome of the match, and restoring the integrity of sports is the common goal of the sports community around the world. At the same time, it is almost impossible to achieve such integrity without the involvement of the Russian Federation and Belarus, since the principles of competition imply the participation of all the strongest athletes, the minister recalls.

Degtyarev clarified that the Russian side is currently advancing its diplomacy and has already ensured the country's success. Among them is the return of the opportunity for the national team to compete under its own flag and anthem in judo, wrestling, and water sports, as well as the lifting of sanctions from the Russian Federation by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG).

In addition, Russia is conducting a dialogue with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in a legal and sporting language. Degtyarev assured that such communication would "bear fruit" over time.

So, since the beginning of this year, 227 Paralympic athletes have participated in 22 international competitions, where they won 177 medals, 59 of which were gold. The Minister expressed confidence that the Russian Paralympic Committee (RPC) will continue to strengthen the position of Russian sports in the international arena.

"Justice, the sporting principle, when the strongest must win, is our core value — a common value all over the world, and the language of discrimination, suspension, sanctions, dictate is unacceptable," Degtyarev stressed.

Now with the IOC: Russia accelerates its return to world sport

Sports authorities expand Russians' access to competitions

On May 18, FIG allowed Russian athletes to participate in international tournaments with a flag and anthem. The solution applies to athletic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline jumping, athletic acrobatics, and athletic aerobics.

The head of the IOC, Kirsty Coventry, stated in November 2025 that sport should remain a neutral territory where athletes can compete without political interference. In turn, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that sport should be outside politics and unite people.