Rome, 26 August (LaPresse) – The Russian Embassy in Italy has criticised in a Facebook post the statements made yesterday by the Minister of Sport, Andrea Abodi, on the sidelines of the “Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples” in Rimini. Responding to a question about the proposal to exclude Israeli athletes from international competitions, Abodi said that ‘it would be a further step backwards with regard to the function of sport, which is to unite’. With regard to Russia, however, the minister spoke of ‘a much more violent, much more aggressive act, which affected the sovereignty of a nation that should have been supported, sustained and defended’. According to the Russian embassy, Abodi's words are “an emblematic example of the ‘double standards’ of Western establishment representatives”. “As is well known, in February 2026, Italy was entrusted with the honour of hosting the XXV Winter Olympic Games,” writes the Russian diplomatic representation in Italy – it would be highly desirable for the Italian authorities to clearly follow the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement and refrain from making statements, through their sports officials responsible for preparing the Olympics, that alter the meaning and significance of the task entrusted to them."
© Copyright LaPresse
