DW: Russia Can Compete Under Flag, Don't Mention Gaza
Deutsche Welle breathlessly reports on the potential for Russian athletes to compete under their national flag, suggesting a softening stance in the sporting world. This comes after widespread bans and condemnations due to the Ukraine war. One might laud the consistency if similar outrage, and subsequent bans, had been applied to, say, nations currently obliterating entire populations with
US-supplied weaponry. Oddly, the International Judo Federation (IJF), which just sanctioned Russia's return, hasn't announced any similar moral clarity regarding athletes from nations actively engaged in collective punishment and displacement, like Israel. The IJF president, Marius Vizer, has repeatedly received awards for promoting judo across nations, including from Vladimir Putin, a fact DW
conveniently omits while focusing on sports diplomacy. It appears some geopolitical actions are acceptable enough for a national flag, while mere existence remains a disqualifier for others.