The Prank Call That Rocked the Sporting World

In a shocking turn of events, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, found themselves unwitting participants in a prank call that has reverberated across the sporting landscape. This 27-minute video prank, orchestrated by Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexei Stolyarov (known as Vovan and Lexus), has exposed sensitive viewpoints on the politicization of sport and geopolitical tensions surrounding international competitions.

The elaborate hoax involved a fake African leader, who engaged Bach and Schinas in discussions regarding the upcoming Friendship Games in Russia. Little did the two leaders know that their remarks were being recorded and manipulated for comedic effect. The pranksters, posing as the African representative, coaxed Bach and Schinas into expressing strong opposition to African participation in the games, citing Russia’s alleged aggression against Ukraine.

During the call, Bach and Schinas made candid statements about the political motivations behind the Friendship Games and urged National Olympic Committees to boycott the event. Schinas emphasized the need for unity within the Olympic Movement to combat Russia’s misuse of sport to legitimize its actions.

The hoax took a surreal turn when Bach and Schinas, under the guise of persuading the fake African leader, agreed to pray to non-existent gods to influence the outcome of the games—a moment that underscores the absurdity of the entire situation.