However, the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency, to put it mildly, were seriously upset and worried by CAS’s decision.
In addition, the IOC’s Commission unanimously refused admittance to PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games for fifteen Russian athletes. However, those fifteen athletes were vindicated by the CAS verdict. Commenting on this decision, the IOC once again brings out vague arguments that the CAS verdict did not remove suspicions of doping and did not provide enough evidence that Russian athletes can be considered clean.

At the same time, the IOC’s Charter says that all disputable issues should be resolved in sports arbitration. Moreover, the Charter of the IOC does not imply a recourse to a civil law court. Consequently, IOC officials’ references about an appeal to the Swiss Federal Court are puzzling. In this case, the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport must be final and unquestionable. Representatives of the IOC constantly say that they protect the interests of pure athletes. The CAS decided that Russian athletes are clean. However, the IOC does not seem interested to protect them; on the contrary, in every way prevents them from competing in the Olympics.

Once more the recent decisions of the International Olympic Committee prove that the International Olympic movement is going through difficult times. For the athletes, the principle of fair play has always been important, but the IOC does not stand these tests. Obviously, the IOC has become a political organization. Its decisions are taken without any explanation, without any evidence based on facts. But the IOC is not a cowboy office, its objectivity should be maintained at the maximum possible level. By such decisions, the IOC puts itself out of the law.

Commenting on the situation, Thomas Bach, Head of the International Olympic Committee, referred to the dire need for the Court of Arbitration for Sport reform. Unsatisfied with the CAS decision, the IOC is quick to bring out thoughts about its reform. This is a clear sign of degeneration of the original meaning of the Olympic movement and the Olympic spirit of organizations such as the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency – WADA. After all, any democratic system of governance guarantees the existence of an independent judicial system.

Undoubtedly, Thomas Bach is in a difficult, not sporting, but political situation. Therefore, he is looking for such a compromise option, which will help him stay in office. For this, he is ready to do everything, including decision-making contrary to the principles of the Olympic movement, seemingly imposed to him by his American sponsors. The question arises: can the top official who is incapable to take his own independent decisions, lead an organization responsible for the development of the entire world sport?

Obviously, the IOC itself exhibits inability to act within the framework of democratic procedures. It needs to be reformed in such a way so that it becomes impossible to deprive a national delegation of participation in the Olympic Games for political reasons. We need to ensure that the Olympic movement does not become a tool of foreign policy of one state …

However, according to many experts and analysts, it is unlikely that the current dialogue can cardinally change the situation on the Korean peninsula. The United States are an important participant in this process. Their position will largely influence on how far South Korea’s President Mun Zhe Ying will go with his peace-making intentions. During the election campaign, he announced his plans to normalize relations with North Korea. However under pressure from White House, he could do little.

Moreover, certain analysts believe Trump′s administration intentionally refuses to search for compromise. Instead, Washington accuses North Korea and flexes its muscles escalating tension in the Asian-Pacific region.

Evidently, “nuclear bludgeon” in the hands of odious North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatens international stability. At the same time, as paradoxical as it may sound, Washington’s policy provoked Pyongyang to develop its own nuclear weapon program. The historical record speaks for itself: the American leadership uses military force to topple objectionable regimes in total neglect of international law. In reality, the tragic examples of Yugoslavia, Iraq and Libya motivated the North Korean ruling elite to resort to the development of nuclear weapons as a unique way of deterrence.

Pasqual Bonifas, Director of the French Institute for International and Strategic Studies is of the above opinion. To the French analyst’s mind, Kim Jong Un is apprehensive of the destiny of Saddam Hussein as well as of that of Muammar Qaddafi.

Certain sober Western politicians point to sensible pragmatism. The call for the necessity of dialogue with Pyongyang comes not just from countries not so friendly to the US but importantly from the camp of very devoted allies of Washington. In particular, Zigmund Gabriel, the German Minister of Foreign Affairs warned President Donald Trump against warlike declarations aimed at North Korea.

“The European experience should not be underestimated. We are like somnambulists entered First World War because the governments of the countries of conflict had refused dialogue. The war began as people neglected diplomacy. At present, war rhetoric is becoming more critical. This is alarming. I am much worried about Trump′s words that the US military is ready to solve the North Korean problem with fire and fury”, Gabriel emphasized.

However that may be, to organize the Olympiad in Pyeong Chang in these conditions can be really dangerous. The Austrian Head of the Olympic Committee and the French Minister of Sport warned that their teams would refuse to take part in the Olympic Games if the host country could not guarantee safety for their delegations. Everyone can understand the West European sport officials: competing in conditions of furious fight of nuclear powers is not such a bright perspective. The International Olympic Committee with its head Thomas Bach looks like a stillborn organization unable to say anything reasonable.

As top leaders fail make decisions consolidating peace in the region, ordinary citizens have been in panic. According to the South Korean Ministry of Sport, no more than half of Olympiad Games’ tickets have been sold so far: the lowest index in the history of the modern Olympic movement. Diplomatic representations of most European nations “recommended insistently” their citizens to refrain from going to Pyeong Chang. South Korean officials are alarmed as the Olympiad budget will not be compensated.

If high rank officials from the International Olympic Committee have no courage to correct their own mistakes, the Olympiad in Pyeong Chang would hit hard the Olympic movement’s reputation. Competing with no spectators is the worst that young sportsmen and sportswomen can expect. Reason calls for the relocation of the forthcoming Winter Olympic Games to another country.

Few years ago, Germany as well as France launched their candidacy to organize the 2018 Winter Olympiad. These two countries could became “reserve field” for the Olympic movement. These European countries’ developed social, sport and transport infrastructure allows for the XXIII Winter Olympic Games to be held on high standards.