'Flags are talismans of national pride, but their absence can also reflect a venomous divorce'

The Olympic and Russian flags at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

Russians at the Paris Olympics are competing as neutral athletes and are not 'representing' their country

(Image credit: John MacDougall / AFP via Getty Images)

published 31 July 2024

'Behind Russia's absence at the Olympics, a deepening fury'

Lee Hockstader at The Washington Post

Russia has not "disguised its rage at having been all but excluded from the 2024 Summer Games," says Lee Hockstader. The 15 neutral Russian athletes reflect the "extent to which the Kremlin is convinced, and has persuaded Russians, that the war in Ukraine is a proxy for a long-term struggle with the West." Russia has become an "increasingly galvanized society led by elites who see the Western powers as Moscow's sworn enemy," which is a "recipe for generational struggle."

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Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other Hollywood news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.