Ex-Olympics coach blames 'petty English bisexuals' for Winter Games suspension

Ex-Olympics ice hockey coach Vladimir Plyuschev has reportedly blamed "petty bisexuals like the French, Germans, English and the Balts" for Russia's absence from the upcoming Winter Olympics. Russia have been banned from competing at all Olympics since their invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Italy early next year, with around 3,500 athletes from 93 countries expected to compete. The Games will get underway in early February, with the opening ceremony due to be held at the San Siro stadium in Milan. Athletes will compete in 116 medal events across eight different sports, with the Games ending with the closing ceremony at the Verona Arena. Norway are the overwhelming favourites to come away with the most medals, with Germany and the USA also expected to do well.

There had been whispers that Russian hockey officials had held talks with the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) over a possible return at next year's Games.

But after the IOC confirmed that Russia's ban would remain in place following a recommendation from the IOC executive board in March 2023, former youth Russian hockey coach Plyuschev made his views on the matter perfectly clear.

According to the Daily Mail, he said: "This news was definitely expected because nothing will change there until something changes on our battlefields.

"There's no common sense there, it's run by petty bisexuals like the French, Germans, English and the Balts. So expecting any chance was pointless. And we shouldn't expect anything from them.

"There are other countries that treat us loyally, positively, maybe even kindly. We need to work with them, not wait for someone to hand us something on a silver platter.

"Sport is diplomacy, just a different form. Let out officials practise this diplomacy instead of drinking coffee in their offices and telling us how hard life is for them because they're not allowed to compete in the Olympics."

The Russian Olympic Committee was also suspended in October 2023. And the IOC said in a statement: "This [October 2023] recommendation was made after consultations with the International Federations concerned and the other Olympic Movement stakeholders.

"This position reflects the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee because of its annexation of regional sports organisations on the territory of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine.

"Such action constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognised by the IOC in accordance with the Olympic Charter."