ST. PETERSBURG, June 5. /TASS/. Ukrainian athletes’ public gestures as they cover their faces in view of the Russian national flag during award ceremonies are in vain because in sports one should respect the winners, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.
"They shouldn’t do this, as the winners must be treated with respect," Peskov told journalists on the sidelines of the 29th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board issued recommendations that allowed athletes in international federations from Russia and Belarus to participate in youth disciplines under the national flags and anthems. This recommendation applied to both individual and team sports. Numerous international sports federations followed the proposal.
Later on, some of the international sports federations decided to lift all previously imposed restrictions not only for youth athletes but for all athletes at various levels from Russia and Belarus.
SPIEF-2026
