IOC Urges Ports and Governments to Avoid Russia-organized Possible Rival to Olympic Games

Facing a Russia-organized potential rival to the Olympics, the IOC urged sports and political leaders on Tuesday not to take part in the event dubbed the Friendship Games that is set to launch weeks after the Summer Games in Paris. The International Olympic Committee denounced what it called intensive diplomatic moves to promote the inaugural event in September as "a cynical attempt by the Russian Federation" to bring politics into sports. "The IOC strongly urges all stakeholders of the Olympic movement and all governments to reject any participation in, and support of, any initiative that intends to fully politicize international…