Olympics: It appears Russia, as expected will not be permitted to play in the 2026 Olympics..replaced by France.

[93gilmour93]

Instead of locking this, I am just going to infraction and thread ban people who cant keep politics out of it. Take that as your only warning.

Happy posting!

 

[Kshahdoo]

We should play only in NHL tournaments (i.e. World Cup),

 

[KrisLetAngry]

You're confusing hockey players with politicians it seems

I cheer for Malkin and others.

Sucks for the Athletes but I said what I said.

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

Absolutely absurd.

 

[Barsky]

The athletes represent their countries . International sports is and always was political.

So? The hypocrisy and double standards are a bit too much to believe. Punishing athletes for a politicians missteps makes no sense

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Instead of locking this, I am just going to infraction and thread ban people who cant keep politics out of it. Take that as your only warning.

Happy posting!

One step ahead of you, I already edited my comment!

 

[MOGlLNY]

Is Russia asshole? Yes.

Should they be allowed to compete because the olympics would be way more high stakes and fun? Yes.

 

[ForwardRW]

You're confusing hockey

Ovechkin created "Team Putin" enough said. This is the correct decision by the Olympics comittee.

 

[xyzed]

at least in hockey I can just forget about them and its so nice and refreshing. I dont miss them at all

here comes the "double standards" nonsense lol

 

[Riggins]

They haven't won a men's best on best since they were the Soviet Union anyway.

 

[serp]

So? The hypocrisy and double standards are a bit too much to believe. Punishing athletes for a politicians missteps makes no sense

They can play for other countries then if they want to play in the Olympics that badly.

 

[93gilmour93]

They can play for other countries then if they want to play in the Olympics that badly.

 

[Romang67]

Wasnt the stated point of the Olympics to bring countries together despite their disagreements to encourage peace? This seems the opposite of that.

No, it wasn't.

If you're thinking about the truce that countries entered during the Olympics, that 1. had nothing do with encouraging peace and everything to do with the logistics of warring soldiers being in the same city competing against each other and 2. has not been followed in any way during the modern Olympics and would require Russia to stop the invasion while the Winter Olympics are going on. Which obviously won't happen.

If you're thinking about the "educating young people about mutual understanding and friendship to build a more peaceful world," a stated goal in the modern Olympics, it would seem that telling people "invading other countries have consequences" might be more fruitful in that pursuit than doing nothing.

 

[serp]

Is Russia asshole? Yes.

Should they be allowed to compete because the olympics would be way more high stakes and fun? Yes.

They are , just not as Russians

 

[serp]

View attachment 1041039

Yes it is a correct statement. Italy is going to compete with a roster with plenty of not very Italian players.

 

[Barsky]

They haven't won a men's best on best since they were the Soviet Union anyway.

2008 World Championships was as close as best on best gets given the team Canada iced

 

[93gilmour93]

Yes it is a correct statement. Italy is going to compete with a roster with plenty of not very Italian players.

I'm sure Kucherov can just go join team Canada then. Just rent a condo in Toronto and say he lives there till the Olympics are over

 

[xyzed]

You seriously can't make the very obvious link there? The topic is about a country who is at war having it's innocent players being banned from playing a game because of said war

its not about players, its about the country they represent

 

[Barsky]

They can play for other countries then if they want to play in the Olympics that badly.

Right, cause that's how that works. Maybe Canada can just ask Shesterkin if he wants to come play for them, I'm sure no one would take issue with that

 

[Fyodorov]

its not about players, its about the country they represent

everyone understands that. that's the exact reason it's so laughable lol

 

[Valinor]

It's not like they are ever relevant in best-on-best tournaments anyway

 

[MNRube]

Would’ve been fun to see their team. Sneaky good blueline and by far the best team in nets and on the wing. If they got decent play from their Cs, could’ve been a wagon.

 

[serp]

Right, cause that's how that works. Maybe Canada can just ask Shesterkin if he wants to come play for them, I'm sure no one would take issue with that

Petr Nedved played for Canada at the 1994 Olympics and then went back to play for the Czech Republic later.

 

[Barsky]

its not about players, its about the country they represent

It's not about the players playing the games? So why punish them then?

 

[Sol]

lol right. World in a nutshell right now. Do it our way or you're cancelled.

It’s funny when you consider the fact that everyone knows one person wages the war yet the Olympic committee decides to ban the entire country. I thought we weren’t to judge a group of people by the actions of one person. Funny when rhetoric falls out the window when it’s convenient.