IOC president emphasizes different approaches in different circumstances on Russian case

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-05 08:25:34|Editor: ying
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LONDON, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach said that different measures were needed in different circumstances when dealing with Russian federation's participation in the sporting events here on Friday.

"Different issues require different approaches," he told reporters at a press conference hours ahead of the commencement of the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

The entire Russian track and field team were still banned by the IAAF to participate in world events for systematic doping, including the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, before a number of Russian athletes have been given green lights to compete as neutrals by the world's athletics governing body.

This time, 19 Russian athletes were allowed to participate at the worlds as neutrals.

"The IAAF is in fact the only international sports organization, which is implicated in the report of Professor McLaren as is the national federation of athletics of Russia. This is different to other international federations.

"It's the difference to other international federations," said Bach. "The IAAF was in a special situation and took special measures. It was a courageous decision, and the IOC accepted and supported these measures from the very beginning."

"The object is to make sure that when Russian athletes return to international competition under normal circumstances, they do so in a way that's not jeopardizing the ambitions of clean athletes," echoed IAAF president Sebastian Coe.

Five years after the Olympic Games in 2012, another sporting gala returned to London. Bach showed his great expectation towards the 10-day World Championships.

"We have very good memories of the London 2012, and are now coming back here celebrating this Olympic legacy together. We are looking forward to greeting the sport in the next days," Bach pointed out, also saying that "set the tone very well" for the meeting between IAAF council and IOC executive board, including the evaluation event by event of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The Brazilian capital was reported to have left many Olympic venues with insufficient use just one year after the Olympics.

But for Bach, it was a little early to make judgement about the Olympic legacy.

"You have to take into consideration the extremely difficult situation in Brazil," said Bach. "Not all legacy plans are coming to fruition in the time that was planned for."

Bach thought that athletics could build on the sport's success in Rio for greater development at worlds.

"Athletics has enjoyed a great success in Rio already, and no doubt this Championships will give a new boost to athletics," he commented.

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