Impact of Russia-Ukraine War on sports worldwide

Bach issues warning to athletes who support Russian invasion of Ukraine:
www.insidethegames.biz

Bach issues warning to athletes who support Russian invasion of Ukraine

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has issued a warning to athletes who support Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, insisting the...
www.insidethegames.biz www.insidethegames.biz
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has issued a warning to athletes who support Russia’s military assault on Ukraine, insisting they will "draw the necessary consequences".
Bach backed the actions of International Swimming Federation (FINA) and the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) which banned athletes who pledged their support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine during the German official's opening speech at the IOC Session here.
Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak received a one-year ban from the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation for wearing the "Z" symbol demonstrating support for the invasion of Ukraine during an FIG Apparatus World Cup in Doha.
Double Olympic swimming champion Evgeny Rylov of Russia was banned by FINA from all of competitions for nine months after he attended a a pro-war rally held by the country’s President Vladimir Putin.
"We are monitoring closely who is supporting this war with their statements or actions and have drawn and will draw the necessary consequences," said Bach.
"This has been demonstrated for example by FINA and FIG, who have sanctioned athletes that have expressed such support for the war.
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"In judging this, we also have to realise that in Russia there is a law in place threatening anyone who speaks out against the war with up to 15 years in prison.
"Therefore, we can appreciate that, under such circumstances, silence in itself can be a message.
"Our guiding principle is peace.
"The Olympic Games, which unite the entire world in peaceful competition, are a powerful symbol of peace.
"But in order to unite the entire world, Olympic sport needs the participation of all the athletes who accept the rules, even and especially if their countries are in confrontation or at war.
"A competition between athletes from only like-minded nations is not a credible symbol of peace.
"And it is certainly not in line with our mission."
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, backed by Belarus, on February 24, the IOC called on all International Federations (IFs) to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in events and stop the two nations from staging competitions.
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Bach says Russia ban is to protect athletes, not punish them (Associated Press):
apnews.com

Bach says Russia ban is to protect athletes, not punish them

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says Russian athletes and officials who have been banned from international sporting events because of the war in Ukraine are being protected rather than punished.
apnews.com apnews.com
Sanctions should only apply to “those responsible for something,” Bach said, explaining why the IOC withdrew its Olympic Order honor from Russian officials — though he did not say Russian President Vladimir Putin’s name — and advised sports to relocate events that Russia was to host.
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Bach distanced himself from Putin, with whom he was publicly close around the Sochi Olympics. Those Winter Games were marred by a state-backed doping program in Russia.
″(The IOC’s) relationship with the Russian political leadership has dramatically deteriorated over the past years,” Bach said, citing the doping scandal, cyberattacks by Russian hackers and “even personal threats to individuals,” which he did not specify.
Bach moved to protect Russia’s active and honorary IOC members, who were allowed to take part online in Friday’s meeting. They include two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, who is an officer in the Russian army.
The IOC has not suspended those Russian members who have not publicly criticized the war.
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The above articles are based on Thomas Bach's press conference today (May 20) - replay is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbBeEo12Y2M
 
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That’s insane. Putin is an evil dictator who murders and jails many many opponents of him and his policies while forcing others who get government funding to support him but Bach demands and is trying to order all Russian athletes to become people like Boris nemtsov or Alexei navalny. Bach is trying to get as many Russian athletes killed or jailed as he can

Silence is not really an option. It’s support or die or flee Russia altogether
 
Russian, Belarusian athletes banned from track worlds barring end to war in Ukraine (June 2 via AP): https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/...-worlds-russians-belarusians-banned-1.6474933
Barring a sudden, unexpected end to the war in Ukraine, athletes from Russia and Belarus will be banned from next month's track and field world championships, which marks the largest international sports event since the end of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
...
... there will be no Russians among the 1,800 or so athletes who will descend on Hayward Field in Eugene [Oregon] next month. The World Athletics Council meets in conjunction with the championships, though any changes it might make at that meeting would almost certainly be too late to allow the Russians into the event.
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Olympic champion high jumper Maria Lasitskene from russia wrote an open letter IOC President Thomas Bach
www.instagram.com

Мария Ласицкене on Instagram: "An Open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach / Открытое письмо президенту МОК Томасу Баху @olympics"

8,623 likes, 3,164 comments - lasitskene.maria on June 9, 2022: "An Open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach / Открытое письмо президенту МОК Томасу Баху @olympics".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com

The same old song: its unfair and bla-bla-bla
Her Ukrainian colleague Yulia Levchenko wrote a perfect comment: "You are not allowed to compete because you are a Russian?! AND THEY ARE KILLING US, simply BECAUSE WE ARE UKRAINIANS!!! Feel the difference?!"

It is strange why no one writes letters to putin... Indeed, what does putin have to do with russian citizens and their problems.
 
Someone made a full translation of Yulia's very passionate answer:

Saw just now an interview with Ukrainian minister of youth and sports. He said that indeed it seems and feels that russia is trying to push on all possible buttons and all possible people in various federations to get russian athletes back to compete. But he said he'll work on that with his colleagues from all over the world, also ministers of sports and people who support this ban and they will definitely make sure this ban stays. Btw he mentioned there that he doesn't mind athletes who openly condemn this war and ask to stop it to take part in the competitions.
 
airgelaal said:
Olympic champion high jumper Maria Lasitskene from russia wrote an open letter IOC President Thomas Bach
www.instagram.com

Мария Ласицкене on Instagram: "An Open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach / Открытое письмо президенту МОК Томасу Баху @olympics"

8,623 likes, 3,164 comments - lasitskene.maria on June 9, 2022: "An Open letter to IOC President Thomas Bach / Открытое письмо президенту МОК Томасу Баху @olympics".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
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Wow! Agressive from the start to finish. Poor Lasitskene is wronged and misunderstood! Consider Thomas Bach put into his place! :rolleyes:
 
reut said:
Someone made a full translation of Yulia's very passionate answer:

Saw just now an interview with Ukrainian minister of youth and sports. He said that indeed it seems and feels that russia is trying to push on all possible buttons and all possible people in various federations to get russian athletes back to compete. But he said he'll work on that with his colleagues from all over the world, also ministers of sports and people who support this ban and they will definitely make sure this ban stays. Btw he mentioned there that he doesn't mind athletes who openly condemn this war and ask to stop it to take part in the competitions.
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Andriy Shevchenko launched a campaign calling for a boycott of Russian athletes. Very powerful video

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

P.S. Andriy is standing next to the house of my mother's friend :(
 
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airgelaal said:
Andriy Shevchenko launched a campaign calling for a boycott of Russian athletes. Very powerful video

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

P.S. Andriy is standing next to the house of my mother's friend :(
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Very powerful, agree.
 
The International Judo Federation stands by its decision to allow Russian and Belorussian athletes to participate in IJF competitions only under the IJF Flag, anthem and colours, as neutral athletes, respecting all the requirements of neutrality. This decision gives equal chances to all athletes, to rise above discrimination, politics, conflicts or any other non-sport related matter. Sport is an important social tool, a bridge for rebuilding communities and a better society, at world level.
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www.ijf.org

Judo is the Sport for Peace, Unity and Friendship

The International Judo Federation announces that athletes from the Russian Judo Federation have registered for participation in the Ulanbataar Grand Slam 2022, as neutral IJF athletes.
www.ijf.org www.ijf.org

As a result, the Ukrainian federation decided to boycott all competitions where Russian and Belarusian athletes would participate.

Georgii Zantaraia, the six-time world championship medalist and world champion in 2009, wrote an official letter to the International Judo Federation asking to strip him of all titles.
by.tribuna.com

«Больной человек, который потакает шизофренику из России». Дзюдоист-чемпион из Украины – о Лукашенко, «совке» и беларусах

«Мы – свободные люди, которые стремятся развиваться, а не погружаться все глубже на дно».
by.tribuna.com by.tribuna.com

Those federations and those people who want to return Russia and Belarus to world sport insist that athletes do not support the war. That sport is about peace and friendship. But Ukrainian athletes (like all Ukrainians) insist that they did not hear words of support from Russians and Belarusians. We hear many words of support from all over the world and only a couple of voices from Russia and Belarus. And also a lot of hate.
We, Ukrainians, imagine friendship and solidarity differently. If you keep silent and pretend that nothing is happening, then you support the war.
What equal chances can we talk about when some have sirens and explosions every day, while the latter continue to enjoy life and are proud of their country? When the genocide of your people is only non-sport related matter for others
 
Ministers for Sport from more than 30 countries have signed a joint statement calling for suspension of membership status of Russian and Belarusian sporting organizations in international federations, as well as for removing Russian and Belarusian individuals from posts in these organizations.
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tvpworld.com

Joint statement of 30+ sports ministers regarding Russia, Belarus

They are calling for Russian and Belarusian organisations to be suspended from international sporting federations.
tvpworld.com tvpworld.com

I hope they succeed ?
 
Bach visited Kyiv today.

The war hugely affected Ukrainian sports. More than a hundred thousand Ukrainian athletes do not have the opportunity of training. Hundreds of sports facilities were destroyed.
I am grateful to President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach for the decision to allocate a new support package for Ukrainian Olympians. We appreciate the initiative to hold a special donor conference under the auspices of the IOC for the purpose of restoring the sports infrastructure in Ukraine.
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Zelenskyy's official FB
 
Zelensky: At least 89 Ukrainian athletes, coaches killed since Feb. 24.

In a meeting with Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 13 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been captured by Russian forces.
Zelensky added that over 100,000 athletes are unable to train due to Russia’s war, as many sport facilities in Ukraine have been destroyed.
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President Bach committed to continuing and even strengthening the IOC’s support for Ukrainian athletes, with a special view to the Olympic Games Paris 2024 and the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and their respective qualifying events. As a result, the aid fund for athletes will be tripled to USD 7.5 million. And Sergii Bubka, as the coordinator of this fund, will continue to rally and coordinate the support of the entire Olympic Movement beyond this IOC fund. President Bach also committed to convening in Lausanne, together with the NOC and the Sports Minister of Ukraine, a Ukrainian Sport Recovery Conference of the Olympic Movement.
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https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-p...athletes-before-talks-with-president-zelensky
 

‘They play, we suffer’: Olympian who led Beijing protest calls for total Russian ban​

www.theguardian.com

‘They play, we suffer’: Olympian who led Beijing protest calls for Russian ban | Sean Ingle

Having made waves with his protest in Beijing, skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych wants Russians banned from all sports
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

The truth is that over the next 10 years Ukraine will be pushed back in sports. In many places our sports infrastructure has been destroyed. Our kids are not able to do anything. And yet Russian athletes are able to train and compete as usual. How can this be right?
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Heraskevych wonders how many of them really care about Ukraine’s suffering. “Not one Russian athlete has sent me a message to ask if I am OK or if I am still alive. Even those I know well from the circuit. And no one has acted against the war. They are either staying quiet or supporting it. And some junior Russian bobsleigh athletes have even messaged me to say they want a bomb dropped on my house. I can’t understand it when these people know me.”
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airgelaal said:
www.ijf.org

Judo is the Sport for Peace, Unity and Friendship

The International Judo Federation announces that athletes from the Russian Judo Federation have registered for participation in the Ulanbataar Grand Slam 2022, as neutral IJF athletes.
www.ijf.org www.ijf.org
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Not a single round of artillery must reach Russian soil from Ukraine. Zelenskyy had to explicitly state that this wouldn't happen. Sanctions are bad because they affect ordinary Russians. Heaven forbid Russian athletes miss the entire season. :rolleyes:

These are not majority opinions, but I'm flabbergasted that they even exist in part of European press. Especially the Italian press is full of it. A month and a half into the war, there was even an open letter signed by eleven respected war reporters saying that the war is being reported one-sidedly, because for instance only one or two people (according to them) were proven to have died in the Mariupol theatre bombing.

Why should Russia and Russians be immune to all effects of the invasion? Is this war, or is it some kind of field sports that takes place within a stadium called Ukraine?
 
A Russian competes without his flag in the 2022 Tour de France. Alexander Vlasov is in 6th place after the latest leg:

Tour de France

Tour de France 2025
www.cyclingnews.com www.cyclingnews.com

There may be other Russians but Vlasov is among the top contenders.
 

Russia claims credit for Elena Rybakina’s Wimbledon title​

apnews.com

Russia claims credit for Elena Rybakina's Wimbledon title

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — The Russian Tennis Federation was quick to claim Elena Rybakina as “our product” on her run to the women's title at Wimbledon. They then praised her training program in the country after she won the Venus Rosewater Dish as Wimbledon champion while representing Kazakhstan.
apnews.com apnews.com

And what is most surprising, knowledge of English depends on the questions. When you are asked about Ukraine, it turns out that you understand English very poorly.
www.youtube.com

Elena Rybakina Final Post-Match Press Conference | Wimbledon 2022

Wimbledon ladies’ singles champion Elena Rybakina speaks to the media after the biggest victory of her career.Follow your favourite players, get personalised...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 

On U.S. soil, Ukraine’s athletes bring message: ‘We protect our country on the track’​

www.latimes.com

On U.S. soil, Ukraine's athletes bring message: 'We protect our country on the track'

Ukraine's track and field athletes believe there is power in claiming territory, whether around battered cities or atop an awards podium.
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com

The acting president of Ukraine’s track and field federation logged into the Zoom meeting from his olive-green tent near the front lines, the country’s yellow and blue flag in the background.
Yevhen Pronin wore a camouflage T-shirt, several days’ worth of unshaved beard and a tired smile.
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“I’ve gotten messages from athletes from the aggressor country,” Bondarenko said. “They wrote that they were disappointed in my position and that their country had come to save me. From whom? But first, they were interested in why they are banned and cannot compete in international competitions.”
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World judo champion Heorhiy Zantaraya called for support for the boycott of Russians and Belarusians​

Before the shooting, which took place on the territory of the "Avanhard" sports complex destroyed by a Russian missile, Heorhiy officially stated that he would renounce all his titles in case of admission of Russians and Belarusians to the competition. In the video, the world champion appealed to his fellow athletes and all concerned with a request to support the boycott of Russian and Belarusian athletes while the war in Ukraine continues.
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Sports front. Olympic medalist Stanislav Horuna calls for a boycott of Russians and Belarusians​

As part of the "Sports Front", Ukrainian karateka, bronze medalist of the Olympic Games, Stanislav Horuna, together with Andrii Shevchenko, Heorhii Zantaraya, Hanna Rizatdinova and other well-known athletes, calls to support the boycott of Russian and Belarusian athletes who spoke out "for the war" or did not make any statements about it.
In this special video, which was shot in one of the Ukrainian sports halls, Stanislav talks about lost opportunities for Ukrainian athletes to train since Russia unleashed a full-scale war in Ukraine, and silence settled in Ukrainian sports halls. At the same time, Russian and Belarusian athletes keep supporting the killings, destruction and this brutal war with their silence.
In addition, the Olympic bronze medalist emphasized the importance of sharing special videos and posts throughout social media calling for the disqualification of Russians and Belarusians on the international stage.
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Maybe sport is out of politics but not in Ukraine.
A Ukrainian Premier League match on Wednesday lasted 4 hours and 27 minutes instead of the normal 90 minutes after being interrupted by air-raid sirens.

Rukh Lviv and Metalist Kharkiv kicked off their match at Ukraina stadium in the western city of Lviv at 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) and finished it at 19:27, with three pauses after sirens sounded.
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insiderpaper.com

Football Match In Ukraine Lasts 4.5 Hours Due To Air-raid Alarms - Insider Paper

A Ukrainian Premier League match on Wednesday lasted 4 hours and 27 minutes instead of the normal 90 minutes after being interrupted by.
insiderpaper.com insiderpaper.com
 
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