ISU Statement on Russia's war against Ukraine - Participation in international competitions of Skaters and Officials from Russia and Belarus

[airgelaal]

Look, the Russians have no choice especially if their family all reside in Russia. Damned if you go and damned if you stay. If they have close relatives in Ukraine for example, things could get very complicated. Relocating to Russia would be an issue, remaining in Russia would also be an issue. Living in a country where free speech or the opposition is punished is a challenge. Choosing to voice your dissent comes at a high price. Very few will choose to wear their hearts on their sleeves.

I understand everything, but the question is different. Should I assume that only these 9 athletes were invited? Or someone still could refuse?

 

[aka_gerbil]

This is a wild read: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rbth.com/history/333436-soviet-sport-under-joseph-stalin/amp

But especially this:

Sport and repression​

Despite the mass popularization of sport, many athletes fell foul of the wave of purges in the late 1930s. Those who had attended competitions abroad were especially at risk of being accused of espionage, and highly successful athletes were readily denounced by envious onlookers.

It reached the point of absurdity: for example, the ski club at the State University of Physical Culture, Sport, Youth and Tourism was declared a “terrorist organization” — the student members were arrested, and the leader was shot.

High-jump record holder Nikolai Kovtun was arrested right in the middle of training. He spent more than ten years in the Gulag simply because his parents, even before the Revolution, had worked on the Chinese Eastern Railway in Harbin (in the 1930s, a campaign was launched against former workers on this railway line and their families to “liquidate sabotage, espionage and terrorist elements.”)

The head of the Spartak sports association of trade unions, Nikolai Starostin, was also denounced and sent to the camps. It is rumored that the real reason behind Starostin’s imprisonment was his soccer team's victory in the 1939 USSR Cup. En route to picking up the trophy, Spartak defeated the above-mentioned Dynamo and — even more dangerously — a club with the telling name “Stalinets”. Sadly, this tale of sporting repression was by no means isolated.

And, granted this is China, but they recently disappeared the tennis player for awhile:

Peng Shuai makes public appearance in Beijing

Missing tennis star Peng Shuai appeared in public Sunday at a youth tournament in Beijing, according to photos released by the organizer.

www.google.com

 

[starrynight]

That speech he made the other day about eliminating the fifth column blah blah blah sort of makes me think he doesn’t or wouldn’t care about the optics of well-known public figures being disappeared even in this day and age. The man is a few fries short of a happy meal….

For sure. Iran tortured and executed one of its well known athletes for participating in anti-government protests and did not care about international outrage or fellow athletes from other nations speaking out.

Once you’ve got control over a country you can do whatever the heck you want - as if they care about international opinion. Targeting some high profile people is a great way to scare the general public too.

We’ve also seen the way that the Liu family is still being stalked and harassed in the US decades later for him speaking out against the Chinese government.

I think people can underestimate how brutal these regimes can be. There’d be plenty of people who still have memories of Stalin’s purges.

 

[bladesofgorey]

I'm sure it's a daunting prospect to speak out against Putin. But to go to this wearing a Z and looking like you are having a great time? Come on now. The pretzels some of you are twisting yourselves into (they's be tortured to death if they didn't go!!) is really quite something.

 

[airgelaal]

I don't want anyone in the world to have to face that choice. But I wouldn't want to live in a world where everyone would choose cowardice over courage.

 

[happycamper2554]

I'm sure it's a daunting prospect to speak out against Putin. But to go to this wearing a Z and looking like you are having a great time? Come on now. The pretzels some of you are twisting yourselves into (they's be tortured to death if they didn't go!!) is really quite something.

Putting on my tinfoil hat and twisting myself into quite the prezel. If i'm the regime, why am I inviting the silver medalists, when i have gold medalists available (Sherbakova) or someone wronged by the west (Valieva). I'm pretty sure every athlete other then them was a gold medalist according to Russia (Averina). I think this was punishment for them. Both S/K early posts could be construed as supporting Ukraine. I heard that T/M were liking anti war posts early on. They were told to shut up and be publicly supportive or else. Probably not gun point, but serious consequences,

https://www.instagram.com/p/CajsfyrLPtp/

Никита Кацалапов on Instagram: "Сегодня наступила весна. А мы как будто и не заметили. Пусть будет завтра лучше, чем вчера. Всем это сейчас особенно нужно."

11K likes, 201 comments - nikita_katsalapov on March 1, 2022: "Сегодня наступила весна. А мы как будто и не заметили. Пусть будет завтра лучше, чем вчера. Всем это сейчас особенно нужно.".

www.instagram.com

 

[bladesofgorey]

Well then if they were faking their enthusiasm if only they could have acted and emoted that well on the ice.
That's such a stretch to explain something that's much more easily explained by the extremely simple and logical: they now believe Russia is in the right and are supporting their country's Ukraine invasion even if they may have had doubts earlier.

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

Barring being forced at gunpoint, every athlete -- indeed, every person -- who attended that rally had a choice: go or not go.

What would have happened to those who went if they had not gone? Most likely, they would neither have been killed, tortured, or imprisoned. Perhaps (and I don't know for sure), they would have been blacklisted. If so, then skaters lake Evgenia Tarasova made a choice of money over principle. Better to scrub floors with a clean conscience than to be Putin's puppet.[/RANT]

I don't think you understand. Many Russians genuinely believe their country was attacked. That they need to stand together to save the motherland. That's the narrative. This may sound insane to you and me, but that's the narrative they are getting. It was impossible to convince my Russian friends that Ukrainian cities were bombed and civilians were dying. They flat out did not believe any of it.

 

[starrynight]

It was impossible to convince my Russian friends that Ukrainian cities were bombed and civilians were dying. They flat out did not believe any of it.

I actually read a news article where a Russian woman didn’t even believe her own sister (who was sitting in a basement in Ukraine) that there was bombing of civilian buildings. Such is the propaganda.

 

[Vagabond]

I don't think you understand. Many Russians genuinely believe their country was attacked.

I hope that you aren't as patronizing offline as you are in this post.

I understand very well. I also understand that when privileged, elite athletes who have lived and/or traveled abroad, have access to VPN's and even the few independent media organizations in Russia and who have publicly expressed anti-war sentiments and/or support for their personal friends from Ukraine choose to show up for the modern-day version of a Nuremberg rally, they do so not because they believe that their country was attacked but because they are unprincipled.

Verstehen Sie?

 

[Perky Shae Lynn]

I hope that you aren't as patronizing offline as you are in this post.

I understand very well. I also understand that when privileged, elite athletes who have lived and/or traveled abroad, have access to VPN's and even the few independent media organizations in Russia and who have publicly expressed anti-war sentiments and/or support for their personal friends from Ukraine choose to show up for the modern-day version of a Nuremberg rally, they do so not because they believe that their country was attacked but because they are unprincipled.

Verstehen Sie?

Ouch. Didn't think this would be an appropriate forum for personal insults. Good night.

 

[aka_gerbil]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CajsfyrLPtp/

Никита Кацалапов on Instagram: "Сегодня наступила весна. А мы как будто и не заметили. Пусть будет завтра лучше, чем вчера. Всем это сейчас особенно нужно."

11K likes, 201 comments - nikita_katsalapov on March 1, 2022: "Сегодня наступила весна. А мы как будто и не заметили. Пусть будет завтра лучше, чем вчера. Всем это сейчас особенно нужно.".

www.instagram.com

Spring Is Coming: Take to the Streets against the War

Chamado para ações globais na Rússia contra a invasão na Ucrânia.

crimethinc.com

Take the streets on March 6. If you can’t go out on March 6, go out on other days. If you can’t go out at all, protest against the war in other ways: distribute leaflets and posters, stick up stickers, write “no war” on medical masks, hang posters from balconies. Finally, talk to people. This is now more important than studies, more important than work, more important than anything else in the world. Now the fate of not only Ukraine, but also Russia is being decided. Our future is being determined—and only we will be responsible for what it will be.

Winter is ending. Spring is coming.

 

[happycamper2554]

Spring Is Coming: Take to the Streets against the War

Chamado para ações globais na Rússia contra a invasão na Ucrânia.

crimethinc.com

So my pretzel is not so twisted

 

[aka_gerbil]

So my pretzel is not so twisted

Not particularly.

https://twitter.com/vasilina_orlova/status/1500242951104040970?s=21

@happycamper2554, if you’d like to pretzel yourself (or not) with me, there was a new interview with T/M on Tuesday. The English translation was posted on Instagram so we don’t have to give clicks to a Russian state media website: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbIwj5cOEAY/?utm_medium=copy_link

There’s an odd little question for a skating interview buried in this:

Vladimir, you are the captain of the Counter-Strike computer game figure skaters team. How else do you manage to relax after a hard workout?

Morozov. When you want to relax, take a walk. In the center of Moscow, for example.

- Do you have a favorite place to walk?

Morozov. Probably, this is Nikolskaya Street, Pushkinskaya Square, where there is a beautiful backlight.

Pushkin square is a traditional site of protest. https://twitter.com/tomthunkitsmind/status/1499985346641244160?s=21

Nikolskaya Street runs between Red Square and Lunyanka Square. From 1935 to 1990, it was called Street of the 25th of October. The 25th of October is the date of the October Revolution.

In dictatorships, people can’t say what they want to like we can. Things are communicated in code—shibboleths, song lyrics, poetry, other references. Spring is tied to the anti-war movement in Russia. Saying you like to go for a walk where the protests have happened and on a street originally called by the date of one of the many overthrows of Russian government is a choice like S/K posting about spring.

 

[Bulletsdad]

Look, both Sinitsina and Katsalapov have made more than enough money as World Champions and now Olympic medalists to have, if they were truly anti-war and horrified by Putin's actions, gotten out of the country 2-3 weeks ago. And they could have taken their immediate family members with them. It isn't as though they couldn't have done what Kazakova/Reviya did and fly to southern Russia then drive across the border into Georgia. They could have and they did not. Then, they showed up at this rally today. Even if they were told a day or two ago to show up, in their Olympic team gear no less, they still could have packed up their cars and started driving south. They have made their choice and I do not believe they were coerced into anything.

I think in years to come, we're going to experience many echoes of Ingo Steuer, with the skating world coming to terms with the actions of some Russian skaters.

 

[starrynight]

I saw on Instagram that Valieva was receiving a very official looking medal and having a some sort of reception.

Everything else aside, I don’t even see how Russia could even hope to convince anyone they have tiniest bit of interest in clean sports.

The doping combined with the Ukraine situation makes me think it will be a very long time until Russia is back in international sports.

And on a human level it’s depressing that Valieva’s legacy will just be doping and the ‘Evil West’ trope. I doubt that she’ll compete internationally ever again.

 

[Bigbird]

I saw on Instagram that Valieva was receiving a very official looking medal and having a some sort of reception.

Everything else aside, I don’t even see how Russia could even hope to convince anyone they have tiniest bit of interest in clean sports.

The doping combined with the Ukraine situation makes me think it will be a very long time until Russia is back in international sports.

And on a human level it’s depressing that Valieva’s legacy will just be doping and the ‘Evil West’ trope. I doubt that she’ll compete internationally ever again.

I think it's all damage control. They know they got caught and all of this is Gas Lighting 101. Her rink is no longer associated as well with Sambo -70? I am not sure I even understand what all this means. But there is some restructuring of TT. I also have a sneaking suspicion that they all knew about her positive test. They could have easily switched out Trusova and Sherbakova in the Team event, but Eteri just got a bit too greedy. I suspect Trusova will change coaches.

So yeah sympathy for the ROC going forwards will be thin.

 

[Karen-W]

Never underestimate the ability of Thomas Bach to try and look the other way. While I think it will be at least a year before we see Russia on the international sports stage again, I am not at all convinced they won't be present in Paris 2024 or Milano-Cortina 2026 and future Olympics.

 

[TAHbKA]

Scherbakova, SinKat and some coaches (and other sports) will have a talk with the minister of sports about the support of the Russian athletes. Was supposed to be on 21st, was postponed to 23rd

 

[Wyliefan]

Her rink is no longer associated as well with Sambo -70? I am not sure I even understand what all this means. But there is dome restructuring of TT.

Wait, what?

 

[starrynight]

Wait, what?

This is the only information I have seen about it: https://twitter.com/Solnish92925181/status/1505109205233319941?s=20&t=PNCTSLKHbaClRPNBdhDKqw

 

[Wyliefan]

Well, that's weird.

 

[happycamper2554]

Not particularly.

https://twitter.com/vasilina_orlova/status/1500242951104040970?s=21

Not particularly.

https://twitter.com/vasilina_orlova/status/1500242951104040970?s=21

@happycamper2554, if you’d like to pretzel yourself (or not) with me, there was a new interview with T/M on Tuesday. The English translation was posted on Instagram so we don’t have to give clicks to a Russian state media website: https://www.instagram.com/p/CbIwj5cOEAY/?utm_medium=copy_link

There’s an odd little question for a skating interview buried in this:



Pushkin square is a traditional site of protest. https://twitter.com/tomthunkitsmind/status/1499985346641244160?s=21

Nikolskaya Street runs between Red Square and Lunyanka Square. From 1935 to 1990, it was called Street of the 25th of October. The 25th of October is the date of the October Revolution.

In dictatorships, people can’t say what they want to like we can. Things are communicated in code—shibboleths, song lyrics, poetry, other references. Spring is tied to the anti-war movement in Russia. Saying you like to go for a walk where the protests have happened and on a street originally called by the date of one of the many overthrows of Russian government is a choice like S/K posting about spring.

Always here for pretzels with my tinfoil hat. I was so disappointed originally and then I was like something thing doesn't feel right about this. Vague antiwar posts to full war pep rally with zs doesn't make any sense without coercion

 

[Vagabond]

[KONSPIRACY THEORY]So, is Eteri Tutberidze one of those Fifth Columnists to whom Putin referred? And is she being punished for it by having her rink taken away from her? Or is she moving to America/Georgia/Armenia? (Take your pick.)[/KONSPIRACY THEORY]

 

[Carolla5501]

Are people outside of Russia going to still watch this? I know some were saying they would when it was first announced but now? It's not like we all haven't already watched these skaters and programs already over the past season.

Amen !


I’m sorry if you watch this then you need to quit complaining about skaters supposedly supporting a corrupt regime. Because This Idiot government will look at that and think people don’t care what we do. Keep your eyes off the screen


We’ve all seen these programs, there’s no need to give the Russian government evidence that they can do whatever they want and we’ll still support their athletes. Just say no

 

[zebraswan]

Another photo of the athletes at the event. In the center is Ivan Kuliak, the gymnast who wore the Z on the podium. Someone really needs to wipe that smirk off his face...

I guess there is always the small possibility that some of these people have kompromat on them and are being forced to attend. But I think it's more likely that, if not true believers, then they were lured in by some promises...$$$. Personally, I will never look at them the same way.

Let's not forget that Plushenko was also in the audience enthusiastically waving his flag... He is completely irredeemable at this point.

 

[MsZem]

Another photo of the athletes at the event. In the center is Ivan Kuliak, the gymnast who wore the Z on the podium. Someone really needs to wipe that smirk off his face...

I don't know what to read into it, but some of them look happier to be there than others.

 

[happycamper2554]

Translation of Katsalapov's Speech from yesterday (no idea if its accurate). This is not what I would be saying if i really supported an active "special operation"

"I want to thank everyone who really cares about sports. For all of us, both for athletes and for fans, this is especially important today.

It is very important for me to compete at international competitions under the flag of my homeland. There should be no politics in sports. Sport is the world. Sport is the friendship of athletes from all countries. Sport is life."

 

[reut]

"There should be no politics in sports. Sport is the world. Sport is the friendship of athletes from all countries. Sport is life."

You get the irony where and when he said that, yes?

 

[MacMadame]

Translation of Katsalapov's Speech from yesterday (no idea if its accurate). This is not what I would be saying if i really supported an active "special operation"

"I want to thank everyone who really cares about sports. For all of us, both for athletes and for fans, this is especially important today.

It is very important for me to compete at international competitions under the flag of my homeland. There should be no politics in sports. Sport is the world. Sport is the friendship of athletes from all countries. Sport is life."

I hope you have some mustard for that pretzel. He is spouting the party line here.

I don't know what to read into it, but some of them look happier to be there than others.

It's impossible to tell what people are thinking from photographs though. In that news clip, some of the people who don't seem happy now were beaming then.