[News] Russia banned from 2018 Olympics. Clean Russian athletes can compete as neutrals

[sureLoss]

Nick Butler @NickJMButler
BREAKING: Russian athletes to compete under neutral flag at Pyeongchang 2018. More info on #IOC decision here... https://t.co/YJYKbqoZHB


Full decision here:
https://www.olympic.org/news/ioc-sus...e-olympic-flag

[undercoverbrother]

I am nearly done with the Olympics.

[Moneyhands23]

Thats not going to be recived well by Mother Russia

[getbak]

You know what's pretty neutral? A rainbow.

[Moneyhands23]

Originally Posted by getbak

You know what's pretty neutral? A rainbow.

Nice! Lol

[Puppet Guy]

Originally Posted by getbak

You know what's pretty neutral? A rainbow.

[CMPunk]

So they can still put in a team, they just can't be called Team Russia?

[Flamenspiel]

So how does that impact the various Russian team sports?

[worth]

There is an awesome doc on Netflix about the scope and scale of Russian doping, highly recommended.

[DiracSpike]

Huh? Wasn't the point to ban all of them since doping issues in their national sport federations was so sytemic? What does making them compete under a neutral flag accomplish?

"Here's gold medal nordic skier Katerina Valistinakova from [REDACTED]. Since she's not officially competing for Russia no one should be suspicious about whether she used PED's or not"

[burn_this_city]

They'll probably boycott now along with their vassal states

[N-E-B]

"Sorry but because someone else completely unrelated to you broke the rules you are not allowed to represent your country".

This is stupid and pointless. Just ban the cheaters and let the clean ones compete for Russia.

[SuperMatt18]

Say goodbye to KHL hockey players competing IMO.

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
If Russia sends a hockey team to the Pyeongchang Games -- still an if -- it will play under Olympic flag/anthem.

Chris Johnston
@reporterchris
Replying to @reporterchris
Team Russia will be called "OAR" -- Olympic Athlete from Russia.

The 1992 men's hockey team won gold as "EUN" -- Unified Team.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

"Sorry but because someone else completely unrelated to you broke the rules you are not allowed to represent your country".

This is stupid and pointless. Just ban the cheaters and let the clean ones compete for Russia.

It's state-wide doping, must punish the state.
I'm guessing individual athletes can appeal to be re-instated as independents.
There probably will be no team sports so they are screwed.

For Hockey if Russia is out I wonder who gets their spot. Belarus is next ranked.
or have a team rest of the world

[sureLoss]

Darren Dreger @DarrenDreger
Hockey Canada says business as usual as it and the other federations wait on KHL decision following Russia's ban by IOC.

[Tyler]

These Olympics are going to be a disaster

[1991 Canadian]

This is a kick in the balls to Russia's ego. Does this really change anything from a fans perspective if the "clean" Russian athletes are still competing?

Everyone will just use the neutral flag / medal count as a substitute for Russia. I'll still cheer against the ...ov's as usual.

In a weird way, I'm almost thankful that the NHL withdrawal and Russian doping scandal are happening at this time. It will probably add fuel to the anti Calgary Olympic bid position, or at worst, provide the Calgary committee with a strong bargaining chip to make the Olympics more equitable for the host city.

[sureLoss]

Chris Johnston @reporterchris
The @IIHFHockey Council will take time to discuss the IOC decision before commenting on what it means for the Olympic hockey tournaments.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

They'll probably boycott now along with their vassal states

Yeah, they really don't seem like a country that would just quietly go along with this.

South Korea got a pretty crappy Olympics.