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[smjjames]

The International Olympics Committee is still somewhat miffed about the Russian government's attempts to cheat.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/05/568585759/russia-faces-2018-olympics-ban-as-ioc-rules-on-widespread-doping   

Entertainingly, Russians in 2018 will not be allowed to compete under the Russian flag.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Hopefully we don't see them under this one instead.

Maybe they can compete under Belarus or Khazakhistan or something?

Kind of funny (in the non-ha ha way) that they made the decision mere months before the Olympics

[Strife26]

The International Olympics Committee is still somewhat miffed about the Russian government's attempts to cheat.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/05/568585759/russia-faces-2018-olympics-ban-as-ioc-rules-on-widespread-doping   

Entertainingly, Russians in 2018 will not be allowed to compete under the Russian flag.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Hopefully we don't see them under this one instead.

Maybe they can compete under Belarus or Khazakhistan or something?

Kind of funny (in the non-ha ha way) that they made the decision mere months before the Olympics

I found a better joke on imgur.

 Instead of showing up under the Soviet flag, they just arrive with Russian accents and no markings. When asked, Putin will claim " they were merely spontaneous 'self-athletic  groups' who may have acquired their Russian-looking uniforms from local shops."

By the end of the Olympics, they will have annexed a good portion of the Ukrainian housing in the Olympic village.

[Egan_BW]

You just want to see the athletes compete naked, don't you?

Is there already a naked olympics? If not someone needs to get to work.

[Jimmy]

As a twist, the judges and spectators also must participate unclothed.

[Loud Whispers]

As a twist, the judges and spectators also must participate unclothed.

That would certainly help solve some security issues

[A Thing]

I'd be really down with just making it an Athens thing again, like it was originally.

Well, that's one way to make the Greek economy even worse.

[Sheb]

I'd be really down with just making it an Athens thing again, like it was originally.

Well, that's one way to make the Greek economy even worse.

Would it be that bad if it was a recurring thing? I mean, it's a money sink to organize once, but you wouldn't need to rebuild infrastructure all the time.

[Zangi]

I'd be really down with just making it an Athens thing again, like it was originally.

Well, that's one way to make the Greek economy even worse.

Would it be that bad if it was a recurring thing? I mean, it's a money sink to organize once, but you wouldn't need to rebuild infrastructure all the time.

It'll be the initial investment.  Probably the maintenance cost of the infrastructure will be a good chunk and it's revenue stream only coming from the Olympics rolling around. 
It may take quite a few years to pay off.

[smjjames]

Not strictly EU related, but is Europe related and has Israel, The Czech Republic is following Trumps lead and recognizing west Jerusalem as Israel's capitol. Coming so soon after Trump made his announcement, it makes you wonder if they've had the idea of doing so for years but understandably didn't want to be the ones making the first step.

[Loud Whispers]

Not strictly EU related, but is Europe related and has Israel, The Czech Republic is following Trumps lead and recognizing west Jerusalem as Israel's capitol. Coming so soon after Trump made his announcement, it makes you wonder if they've had the idea of doing so for years but understandably didn't want to be the ones making the first step.

Not at all surprising, the Czech government has always supported Israel. They supported their raid on the Gaza flotilla, they always vote in favour of Israel within the EU or UN, even if it means they're the only country in Europe doing so. In regards to your suspicion, you're absolutely correct, they've had public plans to move their embassy to Jerusalem since 2013. The only thing you're wrong on is that they're not following Trump's lead

Relevant:

President of the Czech Republic, Milos Zeman, spoke at the AIPAC Policy Conference in the United States and said that “We all know President Kennedy’s statement, ‘I am a Berliner.’ We now all must say: ‘We are all Jews.’ Our common enemy is Islamist terror. We will never march like sheep to the slaughter. Never again.”
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is slated to speak at the conference at 5:00 p.m.

It is much more accurate to say that Trump followed the lead of AIPAC, the Czech and Israeli Presidents

[smjjames]

The International Olympics Committee is still somewhat miffed about the Russian government's attempts to cheat.

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/12/05/568585759/russia-faces-2018-olympics-ban-as-ioc-rules-on-widespread-doping   

Entertainingly, Russians in 2018 will not be allowed to compete under the Russian flag.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Hopefully we don't see them under this one instead.

Since there's no way in hell Russia would admit anything that labels it as guilty while Putin and his people remain in office, it effectively means Russia's participation in the Olympic Games is officially over.
Rip in piss, Russian Olympic team (1994-2017).

The idea of boycotting the 2018 games should any Russian athlete be barred from participating was already floating in the Russian media, though. Also, due to current anti-Western sentiment, anyone who would dare compete under the Olympic flag should better apply for political asylum afterwards - their participation would be considered high treason by many in their homeland.

Looks like they decided that the political risk was worth proving that they weren't doing doping. They've agreed to send athletes under a neutral flag, basically they're deciding to take the punishment and stand tall rather than stay home and sulk over it.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

The Russian Olympic Committee decided that...how the state and the public react may still be another matter. If Putin or a mouthpiece supports the ruling I'll believe it.

[smjjames]

I thought Putin would maybe have control over the decisions that the Russian Olympic Committee makes, given how theres not much that happens without Putins approval. Might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but still.

[Strongpoint]

I know that I am performing a dirty act of Necromancy but there is no other topic for this and creating a new one is... a meh thing to do for a user with my level of activity.

Belarus may become European Syria soon. There is a real dictator who has, at most, something like 35% of the nation supporting him (Much less if you omit people aged 65+ ) and there is no indication that he may be forced out of his position by current peaceful protests.

Not that violent rebellion has any real chance either. That 35% seem to include the vast majority of military, police, and secret services. Also, Lukashenka has the full support of Russia.

I think that the violent phase is almost guaranteed and that means a bloody crackdown and a lot, a lot of refugees. We are talking about a 10M nation here. It is like half of Syrian pre-war population.

[Loud Whispers]

Also like Syria, expect a Russian intervention