Maria Zakharova the Spokeswoman of Russian Foreign Ministery said, ” Denying dark-skinned French track and field athlete Sounkamba Sylla (a Muslim), right to take part in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Game, is a blatant act of segregation “.
The Spokeswoman emphasized that the following case, as well as previous decisions on Russian and Belarusian athletes show that the modern Olympics have nothing to do with the goals of the Olympic movement declared more than a century ago in Paris and contradict the Olympic spirit.
Maria Zakharova added more, ” once again the principle of “Sports Beyond Politics”, sacred for many generations has been trampled upon in the spirit of neoliberal dictate by the Collective West, represented by the French sports authorities. Contrary to the statements of the officials in France about the desire for the diversity and freedom of expression, dissenters are demonstratively exposed to sanctions”.