Trump envoy says inclusion of Russian athletes in major international competitions matters

According to Paolo Zampolli, "The best champions want to beat the best."

Washington, October 15. /TASS/. Paolo Zampoli, the US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, said that the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions is important for Americans.

Trump's special representative noted in an interview with TASS: "American and Russian athletes have promoted each other for generations. "Real competition breeds respect, and respect is one of the few diplomatic currencies that never loses its value."

According to him, "The best champions want to beat the best." The White House and State Department diplomat said: "When top athletes are absent for reasons unrelated to their individual conduct, the competition loses something, and people know it. It doesn't take away from the medals won by American athletes who were put in front of them under the rules, but the biggest victories are those that come against the strongest possible field."

The full text of the interview is available on the TASS site: