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

[olympic]

Article dated July 5 - CAS told about the procedure for hearing an appeal to the removal of Russian skaters: https://m.sport-express.ru/figure-s...na-otstranenie-rossiyskih-figuristov-1946356/

Russian skaters are not going to be well received at international competitions.

 

[Vagabond]

Russian skaters are not going to be well received at international competitions.

Then perhaps they will be thankful not to be allowed to compete at all.

 

[Trillian]

Russian skaters are not going to be well received at international competitions.

There, I fixed it.

 

[Willin]

Russian skaters are not going to be well received at international competitions.

Well, I don't see Russian judges being allowed on panels, so maybe they'll actually be scored accurately for once. And I could see that being well received.

 

[airgelaal]

Well, I don't see Russian judges being allowed on panels, so maybe they'll actually be scored accurately for once. And I could see that being well received.

Russians always have judges from other countries. And they did all the "dirty" work. For example, I doubt that judges from Azerbaijan will begin to judge differently.

 

[airgelaal]

And what about coaches? Am I right that Plushenko can come to the JGP with a skater from, for example, Azerbaijan? The person who openly supported and continues to support the war will be able to rejoice at what is happening in front of the skaters from Ukraine?

 

[Evgeniafan]

Russians always have judges from other countries. And they did all the "dirty" work. For example, I doubt that judges from Azerbaijan will begin to judge differently.

I really hope the judging will be more fair. If it cant, all I can do is hope the Azerbaijan judge is not at competitions with Vasiljevs and Aymoz.

 

[hoptoad]

And what about coaches? Am I right that Plushenko can come to the JGP with a skater from, for example, Azerbaijan? The person who openly supported and continues to support the war will be able to rejoice at what is happening in front of the skaters from Ukraine?

I hope not to see Plushenko and other coaches at competitions. It may depend which hosting countries allow entrance to Russians. Travelling on a different passport (if they have one) may be seen as disloyal in Russia, so hopefully we won't see that either.

 

[caseyedwards]

Oh Why can’t the Russian figure skaters use their power to end Putins war

 

[karmena]

Willin said:
Well, I don't see Russian judges being allowed on panels, so maybe they'll actually be scored accurately for once. And I could see that being well received.

Russians always have judges from other countries. And they did all the "dirty" work. For example, I doubt that judges from Azerbaijan will begin to judge differently.

....when I read Willin's post, my brain somehow processed/understood/included as "russian judges" also all those judges from other countries who do all their "dirty job"

 

[barbk]

Don't coaches have to obtain visas unless there is an applicable visa-waiver program? I'd hope governments would disallow visas for Russians.

 

[Willin]

Russians always have judges from other countries. And they did all the "dirty" work. For example, I doubt that judges from Azerbaijan will begin to judge differently.

I'm banking on visa restrictions banning them since most of them live in Russia.

Honestly judging will never be fixed until the ISU stops considering judges by federation and starts considering them by place of residence. I'm worried that even if the ISU hires professional judges and puts quotas on countries to hire from that Russia will find a way to get Russian judges federation memberships in more countries. Heck, I have a conspiracy theory that Russia sends funds to skaters or releases very good but not top skaters to places like Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Khazakstan for the sole purpose of making sure they have extra judges on more panels.

 

[airgelaal]

I'm banking on visa restrictions banning them since most of them live in Russia.

Honestly judging will never be fixed until the ISU stops considering judges by federation and starts considering them by place of residence. I'm worried that even if the ISU hires professional judges and puts quotas on countries to hire from that Russia will find a way to get Russian judges federation memberships in more countries. Heck, I have a conspiracy theory that Russia sends funds to skaters or releases very good but not top skaters to places like Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Khazakstan for the sole purpose of making sure they have extra judges on more panels.

It's not a theory, it's a fact.

 

[Asli]

Russians always have judges from other countries. And they did all the "dirty" work. For example, I doubt that judges from Azerbaijan will begin to judge differently.

They have certainly lost one or two judges though. Ukraine and Estonia come to mind.

 

[airgelaal]

They have certainly lost one or two judges though. Ukraine and Estonia come to mind.

I wouldn't be so sure about Ukraine.

 

[Andrea82]

We have cases of transfers of ISU membership among judges too.
Yuri Kliushnikov from Azerbaijan used to Yuri Kliushnikov from Ukraine.
He moved his affiliation to Azerbaijan in 2018 and judged 2022 Olympics for them (after having judges 2002 and 2006 OGs for Ukraine).

In the same year, Irina Medvedeva moved her affiliation from Azerbaijan to Ukraine.

I lost my file with the year of birth of Beijing judges but IIRC Yuri is close to the retirement age (70). So Azerbaijan may be "in need "for a new judge soon.

 

[Asli]

I wouldn't be so sure about Ukraine.

Are all of Ukraine's judges imported from Russia?

 

[Vagabond]

Can the Ukrainian Federation remove its judges from the selection pool as it would be able to do with its skaters?

 

[Andrea82]

Can the Ukrainian Federation remove its judges from the selection pool as it would be able to do with its skaters?

Yes.
Rule 122 says

Every ISU Member must, annually before April 15, announce to the Secretariat the names and pertinent contact details of those individuals:
....
- Who were on the previous list of ISU and International Referees, Technical Controllers, Technical Specialists, Judges, Data & Replay Operators, Starters, Competitors’ Stewards and who, due to the facts known to the ISU Member should be deleted from the respective ISU list (e.g. age limit, resignation by the individual, death, sanctions imposed by the ISU Member, etc.).

 

[airgelaal]

Are all of Ukraine's judges imported from Russia?

No, but money doesn't smell. And they don't even have to act like Petrenko.

 

[clairecloutier]

Here's an opinion piece from Hiro Yoshida-Gillis of @europeonice about why the ban on Russian skaters in international competition should reman in place. I definitely recommend giving this a read, and I support his viewpoint.

As New Figure Skating Season Begins, We Must Not Forget About Ukraine

By Hiro Yoshida The announcement by Ukrainian ice dancers Oleksandra Nazarova and Makysm Nikitin earlier this month brought me right back to February and March this year as the horror of what was u…

europeonice.com

A small number of Russians have publicly criticised their government’s actions. On the other hand, some Russians, including a number of individuals within the Russian figure skating community, have openly supported what the Russian army is doing in Ukraine. It is unconscionable for anyone involved in sport to advocate for values that run contrary to its fundamental principles of peace and friendship. While the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, I believe there is no place in our sport for representatives of organisations or governments that do not publicly oppose war and destruction.

.... Ultimately, we all have a duty of care to the Ukrainians in our figure skating community who have seen their country and rink facilities destroyed and friends and families killed in an unprovoked assault by Russia. They have dealt with enough trauma over the past six months. The very least we can do is provide a safe environment where the symbols of those responsible for their trauma are not displayed. Let us not forget that they are in a fight for the very survival of their country.

 

[skatingguy]

Thank you. And also, why hasn’t the US been banned from ISU yet considering how many have died as a result of the wars this country has led? I guess it’s okay because, you know, they are all fighting for democracy and freedom, eh? Unsurprisingly, western/G7 hypocrisy and ignorance is through the roof here.

A number of us have said we would have supported such a ban.

 

[Sylvia]

Thomas Bach's latest comments when he was in Italy and responses from Russia are summarized in this article (Oct. 1, 2022):

IOC President hints at international competition return for Russian athletes

Russian athletes who do not support the country's invasion of Ukraine may be allowed back into international competition, the International Olympic Co...

www.insidethegames.biz

Russian athletes who do not support the country's invasion of Ukraine may be allowed back into international competition, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has hinted - sparking an angry reaction from Russian politicians and sports officials.
In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the IOC issued guidance to sports governing bodies in February to remove Russian and Belarusian athletes from competition, but Bach has now outlined a different approach in speaking to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
"It is not about necessarily having Russia back," said Bach ... "It's about having athletes with a Russian passport who do not support the war back in competition.

"Here comes our dilemma - this war has not been started by the Russian athletes.
"But we saw that some Governments did not want to respect anymore the autonomy of international sports.
"This is why we've had to take these protective measures to be at least still a little bit in the driving seat and not lose all autonomy.
"And this is why, on the other hand, we also have to see, and to study, to monitor, how and when we can come back to accomplish our mission to have everybody back again, under which format whatsoever."

Bach stressed that the current guidance on Russian athletes was still standing but added that the IOC also needed to think about the future.
Some qualifying events for the Paris 2024 Olympics have already taken place.
"There is no change in the recommendations... We are very grateful to the International Federations that they are following them," Bach added.
"The Olympic Movement has as a mission to contribute to peace, so we have to see how we can contribute to peace.
"I think our major contribution is to have the Olympic Games, and to have sport in general, as something that still unifies people and humanity."

 

[Dobre]

"It's about having athletes with a Russian passport who do not support the war back in competition."


Is it? Is he only going to invite back athletes that have left Russia rather than support the war? I'm sure there are some athletes in Russia that don't support the war, but they certainly aren't going to be stating this to the IOC. And there are athletes that have said clearly that they do support the war. Is he going to turn those athletes away?

 

[Karen-W]

Screw Bach. He's a turd of an IOC president with absolute no spine whatsoever.

"But we saw that some Governments did not want to respect anymore the autonomy of international sports.

First and foremost of these Governments would Russia's, you useless tool. Sports is, first and foremost, a state propaganda endeavor in Russia. No need to welcome them back until there is a complete overhaul of their government and a tangible shift in the mindset of the Russian public too.

 

[On My Own]

I just don't get why this is such a big debate... I guess it really shows sports care about money more than any level of international camaraderie or whatever? It's just sports... I wish the Olympics weren't such a big deal and I feel bad for contributing to it.

 

[allezfred]

"It's about having athletes with a Russian passport who do not support the war back in competition."


Is it? Is he only going to invite back athletes that have left Russia rather than support the war? I'm sure there are some athletes in Russia that don't support the war, but they certainly aren't going to be stating this to the IOC. And there are athletes that have said clearly that they do support the war. Is he going to turn those athletes away?

And will athletes who have clearly stated they do not support the war (few as they are) even be selected by their national federations to represent Russia? Really WTF statement from Bach.

 

[airgelaal]

I just don't get why this is such a big debate... I guess it really shows sports care about money more than any level of international camaraderie or whatever? It's just sports... I wish the Olympics weren't such a big deal and I feel bad for contributing to it.

because money doesn't smell. Russia has been paying for sports connections for decades not to give up everything now. Moreover, the return of Russia to world sport is a huge step towards recognition everywhere and in everything. in this way they will prove both in the world and within the country that they are doing everything right.

 

[Finnice]

And will athletes who have clearly stated they do not support the war (few as they are) even be selected by their national federations to represent Russia? Really WTF statement from Bach.

Bach just gives the Russians another excuse to lie. What an a##.

 

[TAHbKA]

I think IOC allowed the refugees participate and represent erm.. am not even sure what, but the refugees. I don't see why can't the Russian athletes who are not sponsored by Russia and train outside Russia (such as Kasatkina) participate whatever as refugees. Without the flag, without the anthem etc.