Of course, nobody wants to fall for a prank. Nobody wants to fall for a Russian prank. Nevertheless, there is no reason to portray the Sun King of the IOC, Thomas Bach, as a victim (as the IOC's propaganda department has been doing for some time) because he has fallen for a prank several times. After an editorial discussion, we have decided that there is no reason not to publish the compilation of the Russian pranksters.
Take a look for yourself. We seriously recommend watching these 42 minutes and listening very carefully. We can learn a lot about this IOC president from it.
Not much good, though.
In several conversations with Russian pranksters, the indiscreet and unprofessional IOC Sun King chats about …
- France's President Napoleon Macron,
- the Greek Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission,
- about confidential talks with Zimbabwe's Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry,
- on Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko,
- on WADA, on CAS
- warmonger Vladimir Putin,
- his own future as IOC president (term extension),
- on "this poor girl Valieva",
- on IBA president Umar Kremlev ("a corrupted and corrupting guy ... he has changed his name because of criminal past"),
- about Russia's Future Games and Friendship Games and
- ... about why he somehow has Hungary under control when it comes to organising a kind of EU resolution against the Friendship Games and the politicisation of sport.
Bach promises his interlocutor, a Russian prankster posing as an "African politician", that Hungary won't let go:
"Let this be in my hands. Don't worry there too much."
Why does Bach actually believe he has influence over Hungarian politics and the would-be dictator Viktor Orbán? What game are they playing? Is it to do with Olympic bids again? Just some of many interesting questions arising from the IOC Sun King's comments.
