“If it’s good enough for tennis, it’s good enough for the Olympics.”

by John Cushing, July 2023

As you'll have noticed over the past few weeks, I've spent a lot of the time at Wimbledon and more recently in Paris. Two sporting venues and locations where the debate about Russia and Belarus athletes competing remains prominent in the minds of many.

It's a year to go before Paris 2024 and for some, the fact the International Olympic Committee still haven't decided whether to allow athletes to compete as individuals - as they did at Wimbledon - is top of the long list of things the IOC is getting wrong at the moment.

But here's something I thought I would never say. I think they're right at the moment. I think they're doing the right thing in seeing how it pans out over the coming weeks and months. I know listening back to some of episodes of our Anything but Footy pods, I can’t believe I'm writing this. But as with all things in life, it's not clear cut, there are shades of grey.

I spent two weeks at Wimbledon covering the greatest tennis tournament in the world. The outgoing All England chairman declared before the Championships the  decision to allow players from those nations at war with Ukraine to compete as the hardest decision he’s ever had to make in his role. At the time I thought it was the wrong decision but I totally understood with threats of fines and further sanctions. Even our Government agreed with the decision and allowed those players to travel here.

I remained sceptical and yes there were clear boos at Wimbledon and previously at Roland Garros, after a Ukrainian player didn't shake hands with a Belarusian or Russian athlete. That was clearly wrong, needed stronger leadership from the Tennis authorities, and ultimately is not something I'd like to see at an Olympics. But from my experience of being in the grounds, watching countless matches during that fortnight, with a lot of 'individuals' playing, the general reaction of the crowds and hearing from the players from all sides speak openly about it, these elite tennis players know the score, know what’s at stake, and cannot influence what their governments are doing - as much as I can!  IOC President Thomas Bach is right to highlight tennis as what is possible “If it’s good enough for tennis, it’s good enough for the Olympics.”

Here’s why I think it’s worked, and as reporter for radio I’ve really tried to play my part too. At no point did I call Medvedev or Sabalenka Russian or Belarussian. The All England club were clear too - no mention of neutral or individual next to the players names - on websites or scoreboards. It was just Victoria Azarenka. While all other players were labelled Cameron Norrie (GB) or Coco Gauff (USA). They were just individuals playing sport.

That's why I think there's a chance the Olympics can do the same thing. Get rid of this NEUTRAL branding, they're individuals with no attachments. If they win a gold or a medal leave the flagpole empty. Ban them from all team events - because they're individuals. They could stay in individual rooms in athletes village or in hotels like any other sporting event. Don't group them all together in one area of the Athletes Village, where in effect they become a de facto Russia/Belarus team. And all commentators and media, please don't call them by their nation, let's ignore where they're from and concentrate on their sporting talent. Also, don't count how many medals they win. They're individuals, performing and competing themselves. And part of the Olympic ideal is to promote human rights for all.

Some see the lack of action from IOC as wrong. But they've offered clear guidance to how it should work. And they want each sport to take a lead, rather than dictate from on high. From my own experience, in tennis, it can work with professional sportsmen and women, and a clear guidance and understanding from the governing body and watching public.

If you know your Olympic history, you will also know these things often have a way of working out, with diplomacy happening behind closed doors, and without the screaming and shouting on social media. Then Olympic President Samaranch ahead of Seoul 1988 was criticised for entertaining the idea that North Korea would stage 'some events' during the Games. The IOC once again played the long game and eventually, N Korea pulled out, leaving South Korea to stage a very successful Games. Is Thomas Bach doing the same thing, knowing President Putin will never let his athletes compete for anything else but Russia?

There's a year to go - it's right we wait and see, a lot of things can still happen.