"Sportsmen on their own urge to regulate their work, since the current state of political affairs creates barriers in their professional activity, and in sports in general", Anton Kobyakov stated at a press briefing Thursday.
According to Kobyakov, Russia has become the first country that came up with the idea seeking to separate politics from sports.
"We raised this flag, and we will actively promote it," Kobyakov stressed.
On October 21, a declaration against any political or governmental interference in the work of sports organizations was sealed at the inaugural World Olympians Forum in Moscow.
It was signed by World Olympians Association (WOA) President Joel Bouzou, IOC President Thomas Bach, and WOA Patron, IOC Member Prince Albert II of Monaco and Olympians representing five continents, Willie Banks (the United States), Nastya Davydova (Europe), Hisham El Guerrouj (Africa), Micheile Ford Erikson (Oceania) and Koji Murofushi (Asia).
The sides pledged to oppose any political or governmental interference, which might prevent an athlete from exercising the right to compete in the Olympic Games or other major sporting events.
