Former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski mentioned in a Tuesday interview with Onet that "he recently heard that Andrzej Duda would like to become the president of the International Olympic Committee." He also noted that "politicians are not typically sought for this position." Kwaśniewski added, "But I understand that Andrzej Duda is looking for something to do after his presidency. However, I advise him to look for something realistic".
Andrzej Duda as IOC President? The Russian Federation Reacts
In response to the Polish politician's remarks, Yevgeny Arkhipov, head of the Russian Rowing Federation, spoke to the Russian sports channel Match TV. "WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] is already led by a Pole, Witold Bańka. That’s enough. Now we hear that another Pole might take over the leadership of the IOC. Let the Poles just try to take over the IOC. For us, any change in international sports structures is a hope for better things. But we cannot expect a positive attitude towards Russia from this Polish candidate for the head of the IOC," Arkhipov stated.
Russia and Belarus at the Summer Olympic Games
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian athletes have been excluded from many international sporting events. During this year's Olympic Games in Paris, the International Olympic Committee announced that 15 Russian participants would take part in the event. They competed in five disciplines: tennis, canoeing, cycling, diving, and swimming. The most well-known among them is tennis player Daniil Medvedev.
Sixteen Belarusian athletes also participated in the event. Both Belarusian and Russian athletes competed under a neutral flag. In March, the IOC announced that qualified athletes would be assessed by a three-person panel to ensure they meet the criteria established for Russians and Belarusians. Athletes actively supporting Russia’s aggression against Ukraine or those under contract with the military or security agencies are not permitted to participate in international sports events.
