Tokyo 2021: Russia reveals controversial Olympic uniforms for ‘ROC’ athletes
Pavel Golovkin / AP
The models present the Olympic uniforms of Russian athletes in Moscow.
The Russian flag is excluded from the Olympics in a doping dispute.
You wouldn’t know by looking at Russian uniforms.
The International Olympic Committee told The Associated Press that Russian athletes in Tokyo will be allowed to wear a range of uniforms in the national colors unveiled by models during a parade in Moscow on Wednesday (Thursday New Zealand time). ).
Pavel Golovkin / AP
They cannot identify themselves as Russia or carry the flag, but the uniforms leave little doubt as to the origin of the athletes.
This unveiling show featured polo shirts and jackets with white shoulders above thick stripes of blue and red – the colors of the Russian flag, in the same order.
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“You don’t really have to have a strong imagination. In these uniforms that you have seen, our national flag can be seen very clearly, ”said President of the Russian Olympic Committee Stanislav Pozdnyakov.
The logo on the uniforms is that of the ROC, not the national coat of arms.
It was because of a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December that banned Russia’s name, flag, anthem and other national symbols in a set of sanctions for what it considered to be the failure of Russia to provide accurate data from the Moscow drug testing laboratory.
Pavel Golovkin / AP
Russian athletes will wear a range of different uniforms in national colors.
The Tokyo team will be officially known not as “Russia”, but as “ROC”, for the Russian Olympic Committee.
“The design of the ROC’s uniforms for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is in accordance with established and published implementation guidelines,” the IOC told the PA in an email statement.
“The uniforms were approved on that basis.” Russian athletes had similar limitations on their uniforms and symbols at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, when the team was known as the “Olympic Athlete of Russia”.
The rules for those Olympics specified that two of the three colors of the Russian flag could not be used together on uniforms, a restriction that no longer applies.
For a new Russian Olympian, it takes some getting used to.
“I remain an athlete from Russia,” said climbing athlete Yulia Kaplina.
His sport made its Olympic debut in Tokyo.
“Of course, it’s a shame that we don’t have our national flag or emblem (on the uniforms), but they are in my heart.”
