Konstantin Tolkachev: "Interference of politics in sports undermines credibility of Olympic gold"

UFA, 9 February 2018. /Bashinform News Agency, Galiya Nabieva/. Speaker of the State Assembly of Bashkortostan Konstantin Tolkachev commented on the upcoming opening of the Olympic Games.

"This event has always been long-awaited and epic. But this time it causes mixed feelings. The best Russian athletes were cut off, the country was deprived of its flag and hymn", said Konstantin Tolkachev.

The Chairman of the republican parliament noted that at the same time the Olympics remained the most striking sports event. For young Russian athletes this is a chance to approve themselves.

"I will definitely be rooting for the Russian Olympians, especially for the guys from our republic. Bashkortostan at the games will be represented by five athletes. I sincerely wish them victory", said Konstantin Tolkachev. "Legitimacy of the IOC decisions and who of the athletes what medications and in what quantities take can be argued for a long time. There's no point to talk about this now. What happened once again proved that politics should not interfere in sports. Otherwise, people's confidence in both the IOC and the honesty of Olympic gold is undermined, as it is now".