Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s interview for the Soviet Breakthrough documentary series, Moscow, September 16, 2024

Question: What were Russia’s goals and tasks when holding the 1980 Olympics?

Sergey Lavrov: There were many goals, the primary one being our commitment to the development of sports. By that time, the Soviet Union had already established a strong reputation as a global sports powerhouse, excelling in the Olympic Games, world championships in ice hockey, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, skiing, biathlon, boxing, and wrestling. In many sports, our athletes were leading the way.

The desire to showcase how Soviet people lived, their achievements their hospitality and ability to host large events also played a role. The 1980 Summer Olympics were the largest and most important event of that period.

The Soviet Union won the bid to host the Games in 1974, at the International Olympic Committee session in Vienna. Over the next six years, a huge amount of work was done: more than 70 major facilities were built in Moscow, Leningrad, Minsk, and Kiev, including a 28-story hotel, an airfield, and a post office. A new yacht pier was built from scratch to host the regatta in Tallinn. As per tradition, both now and in Soviet times, we offered our guests the most hospitable welcome. I believe we succeeded.

The boycott announced by the United States and its allies, due to Soviet troops entering Afghanistan, impacted the Olympics. Out of 144 countries, 80 were officially represented, with athletes and delegations. There were also participants who competed in a personal, neutral capacity from countries that did not send official teams, and some of them even won medals. I believe the attempt ultimately failed.

Everyone remembers the amazing and touching opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. The competitions were brilliantly covered by the press, and those who helped the delegations also did excellent work. A special communication system was created, operating in English, French and Spanish. The only event that marred that time was the death of Vladimir Vysotsky just before the start of the Olympics. I remember how Moscow bid him farewell.

The 22nd Summer Olympics were an outstanding success for the Soviet Union, both in terms of sporting achievements and showcasing our daily life, history, and traditions. Hundreds of thousands of visitors attended, and everyone was deeply impressed. The lasting impressions were felt long after the Olympics concluded.

I think that many of those who remember the 1980 Olympics experienced similar emotions during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, and especially during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, held in eleven Russian cities. Sports have the ability to unite people.

We hope sports can remain free from politics. Unfortunately, this does not align with the current agenda of our former Western partners.

Question: Looking back at the 1980s, how would you assess the impact of the Olympics on Russia’s global image and its perception by the international community?

Sergey Lavrov: I remember how many foreign visitors attended the Olympics and the strong impressions they left with. They were shocked, amazed, and excited – I mean in a good way. Many made lasting friendships in Moscow and other cities where the Olympics took place. I know of several cases where these friendships continued for many years. The Olympics demonstrated that the Soviet Union was a highly developed and powerful sports nation – a reputation we continue to uphold with honour today.

I have already mentioned the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, both of which were monumental events. FIFA officials admitted that the World Cup was organised better than any previous competition of that scale.

Today there are efforts to politicise sports. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the West has launched an aggression against us in sports, along with many other forms of aggression, including on the diplomatic front. This Western sports aggression undermines the core principles of the Olympic movement and the Olympic Charter, which state that sports should remain outside of politics. In this context, we must seek new ways to revive honest, truly competitive, and politically neutral sports.

Perhaps you have seen the Games of the Future, BRICS Games, and how new competitions are being prepared. There are also sporting events within the SCO, like the annual Children of Asia Games. All these competitions adhere strictly to the original principles outlined in the Olympic Charter, which, unfortunately, have been betrayed by the current leadership of the International Olympic Committee. They have aligned with the political agenda set by the Anglo-Saxons and their closest allies.

A little earlier, the World Anti-Doping Agency also started playing this game. Now WADA and the IOC are joining ranks to further undermine the principles of the Olympic Charter and to place sport at the service of preserving the Western hegemony in all conceivable areas of human life. This is what I call sports aggression. It did not exist back in 1980. We will continue to uphold the Olympic principles and will not allow them to be eroded. Those who prefer to play political games instead of sports will hold their own competitions. We will stay true to the original, fair Olympic path.

Question: What is the role of sports competitions in strengthening diplomatic ties and a country’s image?

Sergey Lavrov: I think we are speaking about sports as they should be, not the current humiliation of sports, when entire countries are banned from participating in competitions and athletes are only allowed to take part in them in a neutral status and if they condemn their country and politicians. I also must mention the completely grotesque decision of the International Olympic Committee to allow transgender athletes to take part in certain categories and competitions.

At the same time, IOC President Thomas Bach has said in his public statements that this is a requirement of the Olympic Charter with its underlying principle of equality for all. I believe that everyone can see through these far-fetched arguments. That same person also said that the Olympic Charter precludes the politicisation of sports, yet they cannot apply the charter to Russia because of our aggression, occupation and annexation. All of us have heard this.

When a group of Middle Eastern countries proposed discussing Israel’s participation in the Paris Olympics, the IOC categorically rejected the very idea. Double standards is a gross understatement. It is my deep regret that the current IOC leadership is killing the Olympic Movement. I am sure that sporting events and formats of a new kind will emerge which will preserve the spirit of honest competition and respect for one’s partners. Former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela said that sport can resolve problems, unite, inspire and create hope where once there was only despair.

You have asked about diplomacy. I must say without false modesty that this description fully applies to diplomacy as well. As long as antagonists maintain a dialogue, there is always a lingering hope that they will reach a pragmatic understanding and a balance of interests when war is the only alternative.

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrey Gromyko, who held the post for 28 years, once said, “Better 10 years of negotiations than one day of war.” It was his guiding principle in life.

We embrace this idea as well, even though more and more provocations are staged every day to push us into escalation in response to the aggressive actions of the West, which is waging a hybrid war against us by using Ukraine as its proxy. Sport can help establish contact and foster greater understanding. Diplomacy is doing the same but on a broader scale, not just when it comes to competition but also in promoting understanding. This is what matters most.