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Russians Aren't Happy About The IOC's 2018 Winter Olympics Ban

Russian officials, lawmakers and public figures expressed anger over the International Olympic Committee's decision to ban the country.

Russians Aren't Happy About The IOC's 2018 Winter Olympics Ban
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Russia isn't pleased with the International Olympic Committee's decision to ban the country from the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The IOC announced Tuesday that Russia won't be allowed to send a team to the games in South Korea. Instead, athletes from the country can compete under a neutral flag. 

Russian officials, lawmakers and public figures expressed anger over the move — including former Olympic skating champion Irina Rodnina, former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev and author Nikolai Starikov.

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One journalist was even quoted as saying, "They are spitting in our country's face now, trying to force Russian athletes to enter Olympic stadiums without the Russian flag and without the sound of our anthem."

But it seems Russian President Vladimir Putin has a different opinion on the IOC's decision.

A spokesperson for the Kremlin told reporters that Russians shouldn't "give into emotion" and called for "deep analysis" into the ban.