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Russia wants to host Olympics – but decision will depend on politics, admits sports ministry

The Russian sports ministry has reiterated the country’s interest in hosting the Olympics but conceded that its hopes depend on a “political decision”, adding that the US move to boycott Beijing is “counter to geopolitics.”

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has previously said that Russia is preparing a bid for the 2036 Games, holding a meeting with the Russian Olympic Committee medalists after the Tokyo 2020 games.

Lavrov said that St. Petersburg and Kazan are among the cities involved, with India, Indonesia, Turkey, the UK and a joint bid between Germany and Israel mooted to be among Russia’s rivals for the showpiece.

Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin has now suggested again that Russia is ready to host the Games for the first time since 1980.

“We have a powerful sports country with a powerful infrastructure and colossal experience in holding international competitions,” he said.

“Of course, we are [dependent on] a certain political decision, because in this case, sport is seen as a means of political unification and development of the country. I do not exclude the possibility that Russia can claim to host the Olympics.”

At the summer games in Moscow 41 years ago, 66 countries, including the US, completely boycotted the competition to leave just 80 nations competing, which was the lowest number since 1956.

With the US and Australia now announcing a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games, which Sochi hosted in 2014 and will be held in Beijing from February 4, Matytsin was asked about the Biden administration’s controversial decision .

“I am sure that this will not lead to non-participation of US athletes in the Olympics,” he said.

“In the event of a boycott, the country is deprived of the opportunity to participate and host the Games, and we know that, in 2028, the Olympic Games will be held in the United States.

“At least from the point of view of the instinct of self-preservation, I do not think that the United States will take any further steps.

“At a time when the world is experiencing a pandemic and everyone is talking about the need to unite, and the President of the IOC [Thomas Bach] always appeals to the leaders of states so that the Olympic Games are seen as a platform for consolidation, of course, this step by the United States runs counter to geopolitics.

“But I hope this will not affect the participation of American athletes and the image of the Beijing Olympics. We must respect the countries that host the Games.

A former president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), 57-year-old Matytsin was appointed Sports Minister in January 2020 after Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin formed a new government.

In December last year, he spoke to RT Sport about the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision to impose a two-year ban on Russia for an alleged state-sponsored doping program which Russia denied.  

But while he admitted that the sanctions “have negatively impacted and will impact our athletes” and “restrict Russia’s rights to host international sporting events”, Matytsin accepted that the punishment could have been far tougher given the four-year term that WADA sought after claiming that a Moscow lab had manipulated data to mask the scheme. 

Athletes from Russia are required to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee banner as a result of the ruling.

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Johnson responds to Biden boycott by revealing challenge to Chinese leader Xi (VIDEO)

Boris Johnson has set out the approach UK ministers will be taking to the controversial Beijing Olympics after being asked about China’s “genocide” of Muslim and religious minorities.

With governments around the world under pressure to take a stance ahead of the start of the Games, Australia and New Zealand have responded to the announcement of a US diplomatic boycott on Monday by revealing that they will be following suit.

In front of a packed house on Wednesday, prime minister Johnson was advised by a Member of Parliament (MP) that the “chaos” of his government – which is currently embroiled in a scandal over an alleged party that took place at the height of the country’s Covid lockdown in 2020 – was a “distraction” from the issue of taking a tough line against China.

“We all know that the Chinese government denies basic human rights to China’s minority religious communities,” he was told.

The under-pressure Conservative leader replied: “There will be effectively a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. No ministers are expected to attend.

“We make all those points regularly to the Chinese – and, indeed, I did to [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] when I spoke to him recently.

“I do not think that sporting boycotts are sensible, and that remains the policy of the government.”

That may be a relief to Team GB athletes ahead of the Games, which are scheduled to take place in February.

Former Tory chief Iain Duncan Smith, who watched on as Johnson spoke, said the prime minister would be “imposing a full diplomatic boycott”, praising the move while congratulating the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China’s campaign for the step to be taken.

Speaking in October, Johnson was told by an MP that women were being raped and sterilized in forced labor camps in China.

The alleged atrocities are widely considered to be taking place in Xinjiang, in the north-west of China, and affecting Uyghur Muslims.

When he was warned that the alleged acts were a case of “genocide happening in front of our eyes”, Johnson again said that a Team GB boycott would not be the right response.

Johnson described an “apppalling campaign against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang” and said that his foreign minister, Liz Truss, was working to ensure that no British companies were complicit or profiting from activity in the region.

He also pledged that his government would continue to work with the Biden administration and other allies on the issue.

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Doctors make announcement as football legend Pele is admitted to hospital again

Sporting icon Pele has returned to hospital less than three months after being treated in intensive care for a colon tumor, doctors in Brazil have announced.

The Brazil legend, who is one of the greatest players of all time, spent 30 days in Sao Paulo’s Albert Einstein Hospital to remove the tumor in September.

Pele, 81, reassured fans that he had “a lot of disposition to play 90 minutes plus extra time” following that scare.

The all-time great has now returned to the hospital to continue treatment on the tumor, according to a statement issued by four medics at the facility on Wednesday.

According to the medical bulletin, the revered former striker is in a stable condition and is expected to be discharged within days.

The three-time World Cup winner’s daughter, Kely Nascimento, kept fans updated when Pele was last admitted to hospital.

Nascimento’s messages included a social media video of Pele pedaling on a bike in hospital as part of his recovery.

“Today was two steps forward,” she said at the time as part of a series of upbeat posts about Brazil’s all-time top scorer.

Neither Pele nor his daughter had posted a public update on his health when the hospital made the announcement.

The former Santos and New York Cosmos superstar celebrated his birthday two weeks ago and posted about his foundation to his millions of fans on Tuesday.

Sharing a classic photo of himself with Germany legend and fellow World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer, he wrote: “One of the greatest players I’ve ever seen play and that life has given me the opportunity to call a friend. Going through the photos, I found this one.”

Pele had prostate surgery in 2015 and was seen in a wheelchair when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2018 World Cup draw.

He was also admitted to hospital over a urinary infection in 2019.

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Unvaccinated NBA players ‘hit with travel ban’ as league tells teams to name unjabbed stars

NBA stars who are not vaccinated face new travel restrictions following a government ruling on Covid rules, according to a report claiming that teams have been told to give league bosses a list of unjabbed players immediately.

Amid a tightening of protocols following the spread of the new Omicron variant, new Canadian laws are mandating that all visitors entering the country must be vaccinated. 

Although there are limited exceptions, anyone who meets the criteria must quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

ESPN learned of the development via a memo obtained by reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, which also applies to unvaccinated players who travel outside the US on All-Star Weekend in late February.

That has caused the NBA to reportedly inform teams on Tuesday that any unvaccinated players will not be allowed to travel to Toronto to face the Colorado Raptors in games from January 15 onwards.

Teams have also been told to inform the league of unvaccinated players by Friday. 

The Raptors could also be affected when playing games in the US and returning to Canada, which has fully vaccinated 77 percent – just over 29.1 million people – of its 38 million population.

Ninety-seven percent of NBA players are said to have been vaccinated, while ESPN sources claim that more than 60 percentt have taken booster shots.

Yet rebels such as Kyrie Irving, of the Brooklyn Nets, have been sidelined for their refusal to comply with protocol while taking a major pay hit.

The Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins originally declined but ultimately changed his stance, admitting that he believed “the only options [were] to get vaccinated or not play in the NBA”.

Speaking out against the news, social media onlookers called the move “tyranny” and demanded that players “speak out” against it.

“Just get the vaccine, bruh,” a vaccine exponent on the other side of the debate suggested.

Others were more lighthearted poking fun at Irving and how he might have taken the new measures when learning about them.

“When you see how vaccinated Andrew Wiggins plays, how do you not get your shot?,” one asked in jest. 

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Legendary cyclist begs public for help after thugs raid home, rob him at knifepoint

British cyclist Mark Cavendish has asked the public for help after being robbed at knifepoint in front of his family when thugs broke into his home, stealing luxury goods just days after the star returned from intensive care.

UK police have described the incident as “undoubtedly” targeted in the early hours of November 27 at the 36-year-old’s house in Essex.

In addition to attacking the Rio 2016 silver medalist, the four thieves threatened his wife and children, who Cavendish says “feared for their lives” and are now “struggling with the after-effects”.

Cavendish had recently returned from hospital, where he had spent time in intensive care after suffering injuries including a collapsed lung and two broken ribs at the Ghent Six Day track event.

A Louis Vuitton suitcase and a pair of expensive watches were among the luxury items stolen in the heist.

“As I’m sure you will understand, this incident has left our family extremely distressed – not just myself and Peta but our children as well, who feared for their lives and are now struggling with the after-effects,” said Cavendish in a statement.

“No one should have to experience the sort of violence and threats made against us, let alone this happening in a family home – a place where everyone should feel safe.

“The items taken are simply material goods and our priority at the moment is to make sure we all recover from the incident as a family, and we know this is likely to take some time.”

Cavendish begged members of the public with information that could help police to come forward.

Echoing her husband’s words, Peta Cavendish released a similar message on social media.

“The effect that this nightmare has had on our family is already heart-breakingly evident,” she said.

“Four masked and armed men forced their way into our home as we slept. They threatened myself and our children and violently attacked Mark. At knifepoint, they proceeded to ransack our belongings.”

Detective Inspector Tony Atkin, the case’s senior investigating officer, said: “Mr Cavendish and his wife were assaulted and threatened in their own home, in the presence of their young children, who witnessed these events.

“Thankfully they are recovering, but the traumatic effect will be long-standing.

“It is likely the people who stole these items are attempting to offload them for sizeable sums of money and I would urge anyone who is being offered these items to please get in touch with us – they are stolen property.”

Police have released CCTV images of the robbery and photographs of the items.