Russia will be allowed to compete at Olympics

[iggyloob12]

Originally Posted by FlamesAreOne

This thread is fun.

Why would you expect anything less about the stupid IOC doing stupid things?

[gvitaly]

Originally Posted by dino7c

You are trying to spin that Russia and Ukraine are equally responsible and should have equal punishment...I mean its not worth a debate.

Other countries have obviously done some despicable things but there is no same/same here. Its all irrelevant anyway, Russia was already banned...what has changed to have them re-instated? If I had to guess I would assume $$$$ changed, or changed hands.

No, not at all, I think Russia is responsible. I lived in Ukraine for a large chunk of last year, and will be back there soon, so I have zero sympathy for Russia.

The same way I think that Hamas is responsible. I definitely don't agree with everything Israel is doing, and would love for Netanyahu to get lost, but banning them from the Olympics and other sports events, or the Eurovision seems unfair.

[Circa89]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

but there still won't be a Russia or AIN hockey team right? IIHF has suspended them.

AI Overview
Ovi's Olympic Gold Dream Shattered? IOC Slams Door on ...
No, Russia will not have a national hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics because the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has banned Russian teams from competing in the 2026 Games as part of sanctions related to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) has extended its ban on Russia's participation in its international events, including qualifying tournaments for the Olympics, due to safety concerns.
Reasons for the Ban

IOC sanctions: The IOC banned Russian teams from the 2026 Winter Olympics due to the invasion of Ukraine.

IIHF ban: The IIHF extended its ban on Russian and Belarusian teams in international tournaments until at least the 2025-26 season.
Safety concerns: The IIHF cited that the current security conditions make it unsafe to reintegrate Russian and Belarusian teams into international tournaments.

ROC suspension: The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) was also suspended by the IOC in October 2023 for recognizing Olympic councils in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine and annexing sports organizations within Ukraine's borde


it looks They are eligible for reinstatement so lets see what happens.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by gvitaly

No, not at all, I think Russia is responsible. I lived in Ukraine for a large chunk of last year, and will be back there soon, so I have zero sympathy for Russia.

The same way I think that Hamas is responsible. I definitely don't agree with everything Israel is doing, and would love for Netanyahu to get lost, but banning them from the Olympics and other sports events, or the Eurovision seems unfair.

You’ve convinced me.

We should ban Israel AND Hamas from the Olympics.

[blankall]

One of the purposes of the Olympics was to give warring nations a forum free of politics to get together and create more understanding and dialogue.

The only time a country should ever get banned is when their government participates in, aids or turns a blind eye to cheating. Russia, for example, deserved to be banned after the doping scandal.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by blankall

One of the purposes of the Olympics was to give warring nations a forum free of politics to get together and create more understanding and dialogue.

The only time a country should ever get banned is when their government participates in, aids or turns a blind eye to cheating. Russia, for example, deserved to be banned after the doping scandal.

Well that hasn’t been true or even a reasonable opinion to hold for about 90 years.

[Kipper_3434]

Not in favour of banning athletes due to their government, I guess this works, but I would just let em be called Russia still.

[Canada 02]

for 4 Nations, Sweden and Finland said they would not participate if Russia was involved.

This is a different scale, and not run by the NHL/NHLPA, but I'm curious if any countries will have a hard stance and boycott with Russia participation

[Goriders]

Should this be an off topic thread? It seems to be turning into one.

[activeStick]

I feel like athletes should be allowed to compete across the board because I don't feel they should be held accountable for the actions of their leaders. I'd prefer to not see Russian athletes punished for Putin invading a soverign country, but I'd also prefer to not see Israeli athletes having their country's flag blacked out in tennis tournaments because their country is killing children on a massive scale. Even American athletes shouldn't be punished for all the death and destruction that their government has caused around the world.

But I also feel there's a double standard when Russian athletes are punished for what Putin is doing, but Israeli athletes are all good despite the extreme cruelty their government has shown on Palestinians and American athletes are fine when their government is the biggest source of instability and cause of war in the world.

[MegaErtz]

If Canada had any balls we'd lead a boycott, but of course we don't, so we won't.

[Yamer]

Originally Posted by Goriders

Should this be an off topic thread? It seems to be turning into one.

KeEp PoLiTiCs OuT oF iT!1!1!

[AustinL_NHL]

Is there any nation that doesnt have some sort of crazy controversy surrounding them these days? Many people suck. Doesnt matter your skin color/race/gender/religion/etc....

Individual decent people shouldn't be shat on based on their leaders crazy motives/values/decisions

[Canada 02]

Team Russia

Kaprizov - Malkin - Kucherov
Panarin - Barbashev - Marchenko
Ovechkin - Buchnevich - Michkov
Svechnikov - Kuznetzov - Nichushkin
Dorofeyev, Demidov

Sergachev - Provorov
Gavrikov - Zadorov
Romanov - Nikishin
Orlov, Zub

Vasilevsky, Bobrovsky, Shesterkin

Don't like their center depth; only one right shot D
Crazy goalie depth, but having two elite on the bench doesn't do much in game

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by AustinL_NHL

Is there any nation that doesnt have some sort of crazy controversy surrounding them these days?

Yes, lots. Unless you fall hard for right wing propaganda and believe things like "Canada is being destroyed by WOKENESS!!!!" is a crazy controversy? In that case I suggest turning down the Joe Rogan suck.

[AustinL_NHL]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Yes, lots. Unless you fall hard for right wing propaganda and believe things like "Canada is being destroyed by WOKENESS!!!!" is a crazy controversy?

Lmao wut?

Calm yourself. Seems a lot of yous like to make official opinions based on the absolute minimum of information

[jayswin]

What? You're the one that said "is there any nation that doesn't have some sort of crazy controversy surrounding them?". I correctly responded by suggesting that no, not every country has crazy controversy surrounding them. It was a calm, rational response to suggest that if one believes that then they may be susceptible to the right wing, misinformation machine.

I guess there is others way to believe that, but it is no secret that the Russian led, ring wing populism vehicle is to blame for much of what people see as "crazy controversy" around the world.

[Goriders]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

Team Russia

Kaprizov - Malkin - Kucherov
Panarin - Barbashev - Marchenko
Ovechkin - Buchnevich - Michkov
Svechnikov - Kuznetzov - Nichushkin
Dorofeyev, Demidov

Sergachev - Provorov
Gavrikov - Zadorov
Romanov - Nikishin
Orlov, Zub

Vasilevsky, Bobrovsky, Shesterkin

Don't like their center depth; only one right shot D
Crazy goalie depth, but having two elite on the bench doesn't do much in game

Pretty decent lineup. Should make things more interesting. One more contender added to the mix

[Sandman]

Controversial opinion, but I think when it comes to hockey- there's an asterisk beside any country that wins an international tournament that Russia does not attend. They are historically the second nation of hockey, and should be there as long as Sweden and Finland approve (sounds like they won't). It's not like we've stopped drafting Russians, having them on our NHL teams, or bringing them over to play in our junior leagues...

[Freeway]

To reiterate: SOME Russian athletes in individual sports are being allowed to compete under a neutral banner. The IOC has still banned Russian teams from being entered in team sports.