Disinfo: The Baltic states, Poland, and the UK support racial discrimination against Russia’s athletes at Olympic games

Summary

Pro-Western sports institutions have fought against Russian athletes for many years. There are a lot of examples of discrimination. The calls not to allow Russia’s athletes to participate in international competitions, including the Olympic Games, are purely racial. The Baltic states, Poland and the United Kingdom are behind the coalition against Russia’s athletes. 

Disproof

The message is related to discussions about the possibility of Russian (and Belarusian) athletes participating in international competitions in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

The decision not to allow athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate in international sports events is a result of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. It is in that context that the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee on February 28, 2022 issued its recommendation that International Sports Federations and organisers of sports events “not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions”.

The latest discussions are linked to the upcoming Olympic games 2024 in Paris (France). The mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo says that competitors from Russia and Belarus should be banned “while a war continues” in Ukraine. Different European countries are opposed to the possible return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to international competitions as long as the war in Ukraine continues.

See earlier examples of the topic of sport being grounds for disinformation: Russian athletes are forbidden to compete under the Russian flag because of the West’s cold war against Russia; WADA’s decision to exclude Russia from major sports events is anti-Russia hysteria; Russian athletes face sanctions because of Western Russophobia and Russia’s compliance.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 330
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 13/02/2023
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Russia, Baltic states, Poland, UK
  • Keywords: Racism, War in Ukraine, Olympics
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The EU tried to say some time ago that it wants to be an independent player, to have sovereignty, and sovereign strategic autonomy. They were told "no need". And no one talks about strategic autonomy anymore.

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Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the alleged lost sovereignty of the EU and its member states (more examples). Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray European states as vassals, puppet states or colonies of the US and NATO.

The European Union was created by the European Member States, who determine the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy.

Disinfo: Russia is fighting the Nazi International

Europe knows the truth. The Europeans are Nazis supporting the Nazis. And America knows the truth. They are Nazis supporting Nazis. And we need to tell the truth, and we are now at war with the Nazi International.

Disproof

This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets accusing Ukraine and its Western partners of Nazism. This claim was made in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

The myth of Nazi-ruled Ukraine became a cornerstone in pro-Kremlin disinformation since the very beginning of the 2013-14 Euromaidan protests, when it was used to discredit the pro-European popular uprising in Kyiv and, subsequently, the broader pro-Western shift in Ukraine's foreign policy. Nazi ideology was banned by Ukrainian law in 2015. Far-right groups had a very limited presence during the 2014 Euromaidan demonstrations itself and even gained poor results in the 2014 presidential and parliamentary elections. In 2019, the far-right parties gained only 2.15% of the vote, far short of the 5% threshold needed to enter Parliament.

Disinfo: American officials admit that the explosions at NS1 and NS2 were their work

American officials admit that the explosions at Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 were their work. Now they even talk about it with pleasure.

The US has decided that over the past 20–30 years, Russia has been cooperating "too well" with Germany. Rather, Germany cooperates too well with Russia. That a powerful alliance has emerged based on energy resources and German technology. It began to threaten the monopoly of many American corporations. Therefore, it was necessary to destroy it somehow, literally.

Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that the US sabotaged the NS 1 and NS 2 gas pipelines and that it was a plot against Germany.

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