The President of the IOC and the Vice-President of the European Commission, answerable for promoting the European life-style, fall proper right into a entice once they’re recorded chatting with a supposed African chief. Both leaders end up praying to non-existent gods to make it happen with the to steer the African Union to not take part inside the Friendship Games.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President and Head of the European Commission’s Unit for Promoting the European Way of Life, have made unprecedented statements in a 27-minute video prak.
A pretend African chief as guide of the African Union spoke to them via a pre-arranged video title, all through which every Bach and Schinas persuaded him to steer African athletes to not take part inside the opponents in Russia. Thomas Bach has been involved in a prank video sooner than and, surprisingly, was caught as soon as extra.
It was the African chief who turned out to be the prankster, whom the two leaders tried to steer to not be a part of the Friendship Games. Towards the tip of the 30-minute recording, Bach and Schinas accept the issue of praying to some invented gods to help them make the “right decision”. Little do they know that it’s all a joke.
Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov, commonly known as Vovan and Lexus, extracted confessions and unprecedented suggestions from Bach and Schinas in regards to the “politicisation of sport, because this is the moment when it’s pure political propaganda to show what’s being planned”. Bach and Schinas accepted the interview with the aim of campaigning in the direction of the Friendship Games.
During the recording, which was streamed on-line on Wednesday night, every are requested about their views on the Friendship Games and the IOC’s stance on them, along with whether or not or not some European athletes have requested to take part inside the Friendship Games, and even the potential for Russian athletes competing inside the Olympics beneath the Ukrainian flag. “They could end up in prison for fifteen years. Or they could be sent to Siberia,” said Bach.
Margaritis Schinas moreover commented on the Friendship Games: “After our meeting today, I would like to make a statement in support of the IOC statement. So my idea would be… I can read you the two paragraphs, if you agree. Russia’s so-called Friendship Games are being organised against the backdrop of Russia’s unabated war of aggression against Ukraine, its peaceful neighbour.”
“Russia is misusing sport and its peaceful values to legitimise an illegal and unjustified war. We support the IOC’s position, expose the political motivation behind this initiative and call on National Olympic Committees not to participate. The unity of the Olympic Movement around its core values remains the key to overcoming these challenges,” he continued.
Thomas Bach urged the supposed African chief to request not solely to the NOCs however along with the African governments to steer them to not take part inside the Friendship Games: “If you appeal to the National Olympic Committees, it’s even more important to appeal to the governments, because Russia, as we say in our statement, is not appealing to the National Olympic Committees. That’s why it would be extremely important to say that you are calling on the NOCs and on the governments.”
Bach and Schinas had been requested whether or not or not their statements in the middle of the recording could very nicely be printed, and they also immediate that it shouldn’t be. The recording takes place with Bach and Schinas of their respective workplaces, whereas the pranksters are in a significantly picturesque setting with a skeleton exhibiting on the end as decoration.
The supposed African chief moreover asks in regards to the existence of Russians on the IOC Executive Board: “I’ve heard that there are some Russian representatives, including, if I’m not mistaken, Isinbayeva (Yelena, the pole-vaulter) or others. So what about her? Has she tried to defend the Russian government?”
“No, there is no Russian member of the Executive Board. If you mention Isinbayeva’s name, she has been living outside the country for almost two years. And anyway, the same rules apply to IOC members as to athletes. You know what we have explained. If someone supports the war, they’re out,” Bach recognized.
In the recording, Bach shall be heard saying that “Russian athletes would not be admitted”. The President goes on to make clear the attitude of Russia and Belarus to the Olympic ban. “You can also see that the Belarusian side has a very different attitude to this situation. The Russian side is now very aggressive towards the IOC”.
During the prank, reference is made to French President Emmanuel Macron’s phrases about sending troops to Ukraine to wrestle in the direction of Russia. Schinas was requested if this might improve the stress inside the battle. “Can I ask Vice-President Schinas if he thinks this will lead to a new phase of escalation?” “I’m not in the Elysée Palace. I’m here in the Berlin Mall. Our building is much more boring. No wine, no carpets. I don’t know. I can tell you what I know, but I can’t tell you what I don’t know,” he replied.
“What I can tell you, Mr President, is that this is a moment where nothing is innocent, a moment of truth for Ukraine and Russia. It is also clear that this is a major instrumentalisation operation. If there is one message that you should probably convey to your colleagues as they consider this invitation, it is that this is not just another sports organisation. This is the Olympics. I mean, say they can choose to be in both, but it’s not the same to be in both. This is a moment of truth. You know, we are counting,” he said.
Bach moreover weighed in on the matter: “I think it would be important for the African governments to know is the reasons given by Vice President Shinas. To know that by participating in the Friendship Games these countries and these governments are taking sides in the Russian-Ukrainian war and they are taking sides with Russia. They are taking part in a manifestation of support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and its violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. That’s the difference.”
“Those who follow the rules will come. They won’t be deprived of anything. It is the Russian government that will be deprived,” acknowledged Bach. “And what happens next? Maybe we could give them a special badge. The jokers again referred to a hypothetical situation for those athletes who will not be able to compete under the Russian flag. You know what would be a good decision? If they didn’t use a neutral flag, but the flag of Ukraine, to show their support for their nation,” the IOC President added.
Schinas was subsequent requested in regards to the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Paris 2024. “I know that there are many people who left Russia reluctantly when the invasion began, so there are many people who do not support Russia’s foreign policy. And these people could come to the Olympics. What do you think, Mr Vice-President?” “Exactly. We are open,” replied the Greek.
The video-call of just about 27 minutes went ahead with Schinas Margaritis: “The purpose of this meeting isn’t to reopen the question of the participation of individual athletes. This is something taken. I told President Bach that the conditions, that ring fence participation is okay, but that’s not the purpose, but the second question is… I will do what suits you. Do you want this statement to be linked to this conversation? Or do you prefer it sourced by me? This is not a politically innocent decision. That’s why I’m asking, especially to our African friends.”
After a closing spherical of questions, the supposed African chief is given an settlement from either side to not publish the dialog and to proceed to work collectively to make sure that “the Friendship Games are not celebrated” and to wish to some invented “gods” to make it so.
