In the conference hall of the Russian Olympic Committee, 255 delegates gathered, with more than half — 145 — representing federations for summer and winter Olympic sports.
In his speech, Russian Minister of Sport Oleg Matytsin expressed gratitude to ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov and the heads of national sports federations for their collaborative and coordinated efforts, which have helped mitigate the impact of the unprecedented sanctions imposed on Russian sports.
— It is very important that during this period, we are working as a united team. Only together can we solve the tasks set by the President and the Government of our country, — stated the Minister of Sport. — I want to highlight our joint work with the Russian Olympic Committee; it is more coordinated than ever. We are integrating our programs — the Strategy for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports until 2030 and the ROC Strategy until 2028. Both documents went through public hearings before being approved and are effectively the result of collective effort.
The period since the previous report-election Olympic Assembly has been very challenging: preparation for the Winter and Summer Olympic Games took place against the backdrop of a tough battle with the coronavirus. I want to express my gratitude to our colleagues from Rospotrebnadzor and the Federal Medical-Biological Agency — with the help of our doctors, we managed to preserve the Olympic team and prepare athletes for successful performances at the Tokyo and Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games. These victories contributed significantly to ensuring the security of our country, and we can rightfully be proud of them.
The Russian Olympic Committee and federations, together with representatives of government bodies, are working on the implementation of Sports Development Programs. It is important that these programs focus not only on national teams — although this is the most critical aspect — but also on organizing and conducting competitions within Russia. We have managed to build an efficient competition and training camp calendar, taking into account available resources. A system of social protection for athletes and coaches has been established. Changes have been made to the national classification and the competition schedule for next year. We plan to approve them at the Ministry of Sport’s Collegium on December 26.
But in any case, Russia is an important part of the international sports movement. The ROC, Ministry of Sport, and National Sports Federations are doing everything possible to maintain a constructive dialogue with the international sports community. In this regard, the participation of ROC President Stanislav Pozdnyakov first in the ANOC General Assembly in Seoul and then at the Olympic Summit in Lausanne is very telling. Our foreign colleagues fully understand that without Russia, the further development of international sports is virtually impossible, — added Oleg Matytsin.
...After hearing and discussing the report by Stanislav Pozdnyakov and reviewing the report on the work of the Russian Olympic Committee from June 2018 to November 2022, the Olympic Assembly noted that during the reporting period, the President, Executive Committee, Bureau of the Executive Committee, public organizations, and the ROC staff successfully carried out their functions, which contributed to the development of Olympic sports and the sustainable activities of all ROC members. A series of activities were carried out to ensure interaction in fulfilling statutory tasks with federal authorities in the field of physical culture and sports, as well as public sports organizations.
During the reporting period, organizational and technical measures were taken to prepare and ensure the participation of the Russian Olympic delegations in Olympic sporting events, including the XXXII Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing 2022.
These activities were carried out in accordance with the key directions of the ROC Programs "Tokyo-2020" and "Beijing-2022" and contributed to the successful performances of Russian athletes as part of the Russian Olympic teams.
In the period from 2018 to 2022, the ROC fully financed the approved programs and met all obligations to national sports federations, partners, and contractors.
In the context of the pandemic, the ROC found ways to reallocate funds and launched a new initiative to finance activities aimed at developing sports included in the Olympic Games program, including the support and organization of training for full-time staff in each national sports federation.
During the reporting period, the Russian Olympic Committee received 412 applications from national sports federations, all of which were positively reviewed.
The Olympic Assembly made the following decisions:
1. Approve the report on the activities of the Russian Olympic Committee for 2018–2022, positively evaluate the activities of the ROC, and recognize it as successful in 2022 and the reporting period.
2. Recognize the work of the management bodies, public commissions, councils, committees created within the ROC, and the ROC staff in 2022 and during the period from 2018 to 2022 as effective:
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In the implementation of the ROC programs supporting the preparation of candidates for the Russian Olympic team and ensuring the participation of the Russian Olympic delegation in the XXXII Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and the XXIV Winter Olympic Games in Beijing 2022, as well as the development of sports included in the Olympic Games/Olympic Winter Games program.
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In the implementation of the Olympic educational programs based at the "Russian International Olympic University" (RMOY).
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In the implementation of the "Olympic Country" program to support the development of mass sports.
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In the implementation of the "Key Directions for Ensuring International Sports Activities by the Russian Olympic Committee up to 2022" and others.
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In the development of the Strategy for the All-Russian Union of Public Associations "Russian Olympic Committee" until 2028 and the Concept for the Program of Supporting the Development of Olympic Sports, Preparing Russian Athletes, and Ensuring Participation in the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris 2024 and the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026.
- The Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization "Innovative Center of ROC" (ANO "IC ROC") in the scientific and methodological support of athletes—candidates for the Russian Olympic team.
- The Autonomous Non-Commercial Organization for Additional Professional Education "Russian International Olympic University" (ANO DPO "RMOY") in the implementation of educational programs aimed at training specialists in the field of sports and the Olympic movement.
And express gratitude to the teams of ANO "IC ROC" and ANO DPO "RMOY."
4. Recommend the Executive Committee of the ROC, the Bureau of the Executive Committee, and the ROC staff:4.1. Within the framework of the implementation of the Strategy for the All-Russian Union of Public Associations "Russian Olympic Committee" until 2028, organize the ROC's work:
- To support the preparation, formation, and ensuring the participation of Russian Olympic teams in the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris 2024, the XXV Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo 2026, and Olympic sports events.
- To assist the National Sports Federations (NSFs) in implementing measures to develop Olympic sports, including improving the competitiveness of Russian athletes and ensuring the systemic sustainability of the activities of NSFs.
4.2. Continue providing comprehensive (including financial) support to NSFs and other ROC member organizations in the development of sports in terms of international activities, including organizing sports events with foreign participants.
4.3. Continue efforts to support the development of mass sports and promote Olympic ideals and values, including within the framework of the ROC program "Olympic Country."
4.4. Continue the work in the framework of "Olympic Education."
4.5. Continue efforts to protect the rights of "clean athletes," and prevent discrimination of athletes who have never committed anti-doping violations, as well as discrimination based on national identity.
4.6. Continue efforts to promote the purity of sport, provide support to NSFs and Russian Federation entities in preparing and improving the qualifications of their specialists in anti-doping work, as well as ensuring their activities.
4.7. Continue efforts to develop the domestic Fair Play movement.
4.8. Send thank-you letters to sponsors and partners for their assistance in implementing ROC programs and activities.
5. In the implementation of ROC programs (concepts, events, projects, etc.), strengthen efforts to promote civil consciousness, patriotism, and pride in the country and the achievements of Russian athletes by advocating Olympic ideals and values.Additionally, the delegates of the Olympic Assembly took note of the report of the Audit and Revision Commission of the Russian Olympic Committee for 2020–2022, and approved the Limited Liability Company "Financial and Accounting Consultants" (LLC "FBK") as the auditor for the Russian Olympic Committee for 2023–2026.
During the Olympic Assembly, it was also announced that there were changes in the leadership of the ROC Athletes' Commission.
Sofia Velikaya, a two-time Olympic champion in fencing, had previously submitted her resignation as chair of the ROC Athletes' Commission, effective December 16, 2022, due to personal family circumstances.
By a majority vote of the members of the Athletes' Commission, Yuri Borzakovsky, the 2004 Olympic champion and former head coach of the Russian athletics team, was elected the new head of the commission. He had previously served as the vice-chairman of the ROC Athletes' Commission.
Stanislav Pozdnyakov, President of the ROC, thanked Sofia Velikaya for her work and, to the applause of the assembly, presented her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
Sofia Velikaya:
- I congratulate Stanislav Alekseevich Pozdnyakov on his re-election as President of the ROC and all the members of the ROC Executive Committee who have joined the new composition. The leadership of the Russian Olympic Committee has honorably handled all the difficult situations that have arisen over these years. We see how the ROC constantly fights for the rights of Russian athletes on the international stage. Despite everything, I am confident that we will overcome all challenges.Yuri Borzakovsky:
- Sofia Velikaya has, so to speak, passed me the baton. We worked together for a long time, and it was very nice today to hear the high appraisal of our work from the President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav Pozdnyakov. The ROC Athletes' Commission plans to continue developing, actively supporting the Olympic movement, assisting all our athletes, and working together with the ROC leadership to address current issues.
After the Olympic Assembly, Stanislav Pozdnyakov answered journalists' questions:
- The delegates of the Olympic Assembly recognized the successful outcomes of the ROC's work from 2018 to 2022 and elected the new leadership of the ROC. It is a great honor for me to continue working as President of the Russian Olympic Committee, and the unanimous support for my candidacy speaks to the high level of consolidation within our Olympic community.There has been a rotation in the Athletes' Commission: Sofia Velikaya, after four years of challenging and important work, decided to focus on her family and sports career. Yuri Borzakovsky was unanimously elected as the new chairman of the ROC Athletes' Commission.
Furthermore, the ROC Executive Committee traditionally includes leaders from federations of Olympic sports, regional Olympic councils, and academies. Thus, the new composition of the Executive Committee fully reflects the goals and tasks outlined in the ROC Strategy 2028.
- You spoke about two potential scenarios for the future. In particular, that our team will be able to participate in the 2024 Games. However, some of the heads of our federations no longer believe this will happen.
- My confidence is based on the declaration made at the Olympic Summit held on December 9 in Lausanne. The President and Vice President of the IOC, heads of international federations for Olympic sports, and leaders of major NOCs participated in it. The declaration clearly noted that the Olympic Summit supports the proposal of the Olympic Council of Asia to explore the return of athletes from Russia and Belarus to competitions – at least on the territory and under the jurisdiction of the Olympic Council of Asia.The IOC will review this proposal: conference calls will be held with NOCs, international federations, Athletes' Commissions, and IOC members. After all discussions, a decision will be made. With a high degree of probability, our athletes will be able to participate in international competitions, including Olympic qualification.
However, if I were to say now that our team will be represented at Paris 2024 in the same composition as, for example, at Tokyo 2020, that would be an exaggeration. It is clear that the size of the delegation will likely be smaller. Nevertheless, the most important point that all participants at the summit unanimously agreed upon is that the Olympic family must care for all athletes, regardless of their nationality or citizenship.
