Vladimir Putin stated that authorities would not prevent Russian athletes from participating in 2018 Olympics in neutral status

UFA, 7 December 2017. /Bashinform News Agency, Alfiya Agliullina/. Russian athletes have received approval from the authorities to participate in the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korean Pyeongchang in a neutral status. Russian President Vladimir Putin, while talking to workers of the Gorky Automobile Plant, stated that the country's authorities would not prevent the Russian athletes from participating in the 2018 Olympics in a neutral status, TASS reports.

“However, there should be no doubt, we will not be announcing any kind of blockade, or preventing our Olympians from taking part in the Games, if some of them decide they want to participate in an individual capacity”, the head of state said.

Putin pointed out that many athletes, and he knew many of them personally, “have been training for this event all their lives.” “They have been training for it throughout their careers, because the Games are so important to them. So, with this in mind, of course we will not prevent anyone from doing what they want, and we will not block anything, or come up with prohibitive requirements”, the head of state underlined.

He added that “however, we still need to carefully review the decisions involved, read them, and be aware of all the details”.

«Of course, it is up to the Olympic Assembly to take the final decision», the President concluded reminding that it was scheduled to take place one of these days.