00:00Commissioner Michelaf, you were there at the Games. What is your view here? We see dreams shattered.
00:04Well, let me just say, first of all, the Winter Olympic Games have been so far a fantastic celebration of
00:10sporting excellence, of fair competition, of friendship and promoting peace.
00:15Now, when it comes to the organisation and the regulation of sporting events, the autonomy of sporting federations and of
00:25associations to regulate these Games is a fundamental pillar in sport.
00:29So it is for the International Olympic Committee, it is for the federations to set the rules and regulations for
00:36the competitions.
00:38Now, this is uncontested. What we're talking about here is messaging and messaging rules, particularly to come out of the
00:48Olympic Charter.
00:49Now, in this particular case, the rule is not directed at a particular country. These are rules to safeguard safety
00:58for athletes, but also fair competition.
01:01And I emphasise this point. I am sad to see that Vladislav and the situation could not be resolved before
01:11the competition.
01:12When you say messaging, what message does that say to Ukrainians?
01:15Well, let me just finish the point. I'm sad to see that the situation could not be resolved before the
01:22competition, I think, in a way that would have allowed him to express himself and pay respect to the fallen
01:29heroes in Ukraine.
01:31Ukraine is going through a very tough time. We've just seen in the previous message the difficult situation that Ukraine
01:40is going through.
01:41But the decision by the IOC is one I respect. And I respect particularly the fact that Kirstie Coventry, the
01:49president of the International Olympic Committee, was speaking to Vladislav face-to-face, explaining the situation, trying to resolve the
01:59dispute through dialogue.
02:00I also admire the fact that she made an extraordinary, in the event of the extraordinary situation, made an appeal
02:09to the disciplinary committee also to revoke the accreditation and restore the accreditation.
02:14So it's not over yet?
02:15To Vladislav.
02:16Okay.
02:17Of course, I appeal for engagement and dialogue.
02:20Commissioner Glenn Michalav and Sasha Vakilina, thank you so much for being with us here this morning.
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