DIF Chair backs IOC’s strong critique of Russia

The chairman of the Danish Sports Federation (DIF), Hans Natorp, supports the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in their criticism of Russia’s attempts to politicize sports. Russia, excluded from the Olympic cooperation, plans to hold its ‘Friendship Games,’ considered an alternative Olympic event. Natorp agrees with the IOC’s concern that this move violates the Olympic charter and several UN resolutions by bypassing sports organizations, further politicizing sports. The Russian government has established and funded the International Friendship Federation (IFA) to organize these events, with a summer edition in September and winter games in 2026. The IOC, recalling Russia’s involvement in athlete doping in Sochi 2014, fears that governments might pressure athletes to participate in these games. Natorp appreciates the IOC’s unusually direct stance, pointing out Russia’s history of using sports for political purposes.