The U.S. supported Russia’s return to international sport – NYT

The United States has supported Russia’s return to global sports.

The New York Times reported this, citing a statement by Paolo Zampolli, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships.

Commenting on Russia’s participation in the Paralympic Games, Zampolli said that sport is for everyone. This position sharply diverges from that of European leaders and Ukraine, which plans to boycott the opening of the Paralympics as a protest. Italy, the host of this year’s Games, said it “absolutely disagrees” with the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow the teams of Russia and Belarus to compete.

At the same time, The New York Times writes that FIFA President Gianni Infantino recently said he wants to see Russia in international competitions, while IOC President Kirsty Coventry said that sport should remain a “neutral platform where every athlete can compete freely.”

Another IOC member, Jordan’s Prince Feisal Al Hussein, also supported Russia’s return.

“They are certainly making good progress, and ultimately the Olympic movement is about inclusivity, not exclusivity, so we have to find a way to bring everyone back,” Hussein said.

Earlier, the NYT—citing an IOC decision in Milan—wrote that Russia could emerge from the boycott in international sports.

And in Ukraine’s parliament, lawmakers said that the year that has begun will be a year of a large-scale return of Russian athletes to international sport, including under their own symbols.