The Olympic Games have long been a symbol of unity and sportsmanship. Athletes from around the world come together to compete on the grandest stage. But for some, that dream has been snatched away. And guess who is not happy about the recent Olympic fiasco? None other than UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
The proud Russian voiced his frustration. The cause of his ire was the ban on Russian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It’s a decision that has left many scratching their heads and others fuming. Makkhachev spoke up about this on Instagram.
“I enjoyed watching wrestling these days. It’s a pity that dirty politics got into such a courageous sport…People who gave their whole lives to this sport and got a chance to compete at the Olympic Games are forced to stay at home and watch the Olympics on TV. The double standards of dirty countries deprive our athletes of what they have been striving for all their lives,” wrote Makhachev.
Islam Makhachev speaks out about Russia being banned from the 2024 Olympic Games:
“I enjoyed watching wrestling these days. It’s a pity that dirty politics got into such a courageous sport.
People who gave their whole lives to this sport and got a chance to compete at the… pic.twitter.com/7nioRBHzcw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 11, 2024
The International Olympic Committee dropped this bombshell back in February 2022. Russia and Belarus found themselves on the outside looking in. The reason was the invasion of Ukraine and a violation of the Olympic Truce.
The Dagestani fighter suggested it was unfair to punish athletes for political actions. The situation raises interesting questions about sports and politics. Is it fair to punish athletes for their country’s actions? Or is there a way to separate the two? It’s a puzzle more complex than a Rubik’s Cube.
Islam Makhachev Condemned Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
The world of sports has been buzzing with controversy lately, and it’s not about who won or lost. The Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony had stirred up quite a storm. Athletes from various disciplines were speaking out, with Islam Makhachev joining the chorus.
The Dagestani fighter didn’t mince words when he shared his thoughts on social media. He posted a side-by-side comparison that raised eyebrows across the internet. On one side was the 2014 Russian Olympics ceremony, and on the other, the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Paris Games is a shame and dark stain on Olympic movement. We should bring it back to Russia again, to fix everything. https://t.co/qczVN25hir
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) July 27, 2024
Makhachev didn’t just stop at criticism. Instead, he had a solution in mind. He declared that Russia should host the Olympics again. Moreover, the UFC lightweight champ isn’t alone in his disapproval. Boxing sensation Ryan Garcia also took a swing at the ceremony. He claimed it mocked Christianity and Jesus Christ. It seems the Paris Olympics has managed to ruffle feathers across combat sports.
