Russian wrestling team boycotts Paris 2024 Olympics
Paris: The Russian Olympic wrestling team has announced a boycott of the Paris 2024 Games, protesting the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to allow only a select group of Russian athletes to compete under a neutral flag.
The decision to permit certain athletes followed Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine, prompting the IOC to initially bar all Russian athletes. The IOC later allowed participation for those who met stringent requirements, including not supporting, funding, or being associated with the Russian military efforts.
The Russian Wrestling Federation had ten athletes who passed the eligibility checks but chose not to participate. The Federation released a statement condemning the criteria used for selection, stating it undermined the unity of their team. Mikhail Mamiashvili, the Federation's President, criticized the event, calling it a "parody of competition."
Prominent wrestlers, including two-time Olympic champion Abdulrashid Sadulaev and double world champion Zaur Uguev, failed the IOC's eligibility test, potentially influencing the Federation's stance. The athletes eligible to compete under the "AIN" designation (Individual Neutral Athlete) did not partake in the opening ceremony and will not have their medals count towards official team standings.
Despite the controversy, the neutral athletes secured early success, with Ivan Litvinovich winning gold in men's trampoline and Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya taking silver in women's trampoline.
The Federation expressed disappointment that the wrestling world missed an opportunity to witness a competition featuring the sport's strongest athletes.
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EC will leave no stone unturned to hold free, fair elections in West Bengal: CEC Kumar
New Delhi (PTI): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday asserted that the Election Commission will leave no stone unturned in holding free, fair and transparent polls in West Bengal where the first phase of voting is scheduled to be held on April 23.
Interacting with officials involved in poll management, the CEC said the elections will be fear-free, violence-free and intimidation-free.
Officials said the poll authority will ensure elections are also inducement-free and "booth jamming free".
No employee of the state government, local bodies or autonomous bodies will be allowed to influence the electoral process, they said.
The ruling TMC in the state has accused the EC of playing in the hands of the BJP, a charge vehemently rejected by the election watchdog.
The EC and the TMC have also been at loggerheads over the special intensive revision of voters' list with the party accusing the poll authority of deliberately disenfranchising voters to benefit the BJP. Both the EC and the BJP have rejected the charge while dubbing it as baseless.
The second phase of voting in West Bengal will be held on April 29 and votes will be counted on May 4.
