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

[Asli]

Ukraine announce will boycott Paris 2024 qualifying events where Russians are participating​

Ukraine will boycott Paris 2024 qualifying events where Russians participated

Ukraine's Government has officially announced that athletes from the country will not participate in any qualifying events for next year's Olympic Gam...

www.insidethegames.biz

IMO this is only going to work if other national olympic committees declare they will boycott these too.

 

[Asli]

So sad and wrong that Ukrainians are the ones who will miss out on the Olympics because the IOC can never stand up to Russia

Like Ukraine could never stand up to a Russian invasion for more than three days, right?
One shouldn't underestimate the power of a principled stance.

 

[coppertop1]

More sports bodies have spoken up against allowing Russia back but the IOC refuses to read the room.

 

[TAHbKA]

ISU has time. The season doesn't begin till late August. They can sit back and watch what will happen to the other sports till they make a decision

 

[coppertop1]

ISU has time. The season doesn't begin till late August. They can sit back and watch what will happen to the other sports till they make a decision

I actually meant the IOC

 

[Karen-W]

ISU has time. The season doesn't begin till late August. They can sit back and watch what will happen to the other sports till they make a decision

Wellll, really, they have until the GP Host Commission meets since there are a handful of Russians that remain on the WS Top 24 and will even when the 2020-21 points are dropped and the 2021-22 points are reduced to 70%. But, still that gives the ISU about 3 months to observe and wait on a decision.

ETA - but now that I think about it a bit further, Valieva would be one of the skaters who remains on the WS Top 24 list, so the ISU might very well just drag their feet on lifting the ban until that issue is resolved with CAS. I can just imagine more than a few people objecting to skating in any event where she's allowed to skate while that is still being adjucated.

 

[coppertop1]

Wellll, really, they have until the GP Host Commission meets since there are a handful of Russians that remain on the WS Top 24 and will even when the 2020-21 points are dropped and the 2021-22 points are reduced to 70%. But, still that gives the ISU about 3 months to observe and wait on a decision.

Between the war and the unresolved Team Event, allowing Russia back would be tone deaf and likely awkward for the other skaters.

 

[Mafke]

Why do the olympics still exist again?

They serve no functional or symbolic purpose anymore, just shut down the whole stinking, corrupt mess.

World Championships should be the big event on any sport's calendar, not the olys (again, hopelessly corrupt and corrupted for decades now).

 

[On My Own]

World Championships should be the big event on any sport's calendar, not the olys (again, hopelessly corrupt and corrupted for decades now).

I mean, until last season, people were crying foul that Russia's presence in the world championships was already reeking of corruption. Who's to say the corruption doesn't exist within the ISU as well and isn't continuing?

 

[airgelaal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1641676112588677120

 

[Hedwig]

I think now is the time to let your own NOC hear how you feel and let the ISU hear how you feel and write polite emails explaining why you would not watch if Russians are let back in. Much easier than having to bring them to change a decision later on.

 

[barbk]

Suggestions as to the right contact for USFS? Tracy Marek's is the only email I see...but I doubt she is making those kinds of position decisions for USFS.

 

[Vagabond]

When in doubt, you can always mail a letter.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

If you're banning Russians for being used by their governments what about the Chinese athletes?

what country or nation are they actively invading and killing innocents and committing crimes at the moment?

 

[Asli]

Why do the olympics still exist again?

They serve no functional or symbolic purpose anymore, just shut down the whole stinking, corrupt mess.

World Championships should be the big event on any sport's calendar, not the olys (again, hopelessly corrupt and corrupted for decades now).

I love the Olympics like an uncynical, wide-eyed child. No other sports event brings so much excitement and joy. There is a lot of corruption behind the scenes, but such is life. We can't throw away the baby with the bathwater!

 

[coppertop1]

I love the Olympics like an uncynical, wide-eyed child. No other sports event brings so much excitement and joy. There is a lot of corruption behind the scenes, but such is life. We can't throw away the baby with the bathwater!

And allowing back in would be spitting in all that.

 

[Asli]

And allowing back in would be spitting in all that.

Of course. Priorities! How can one enjoy the Olympics if Russian athletes are included while Ukrainians have to withdraw?

 

[Hedwig]

what country or nation are they actively invading and killing innocents and committing crimes at the moment?

Well there are quite a few.
But most often in war there is no clear aggressor and no clear innocent party
Although there have been instances of that and the World did not care.

or not enough people did to make a difference

No reason not to care now and tell the playground bully that we are not silent anymore.

 

[On My Own]

Maybe if someone has a visible account on twitter, they can tweet it out and hope it gets traction? It's not a skating-specific thing either, so hopefully many will see, it might even get boosted by some of the skaters on twitter.

@clairecloutier, @SkateGuard @Sylvia IDK

 

[ChelleC]

The Olympics Twitter account asked this morning what sports you are looking forward to in Paris. Overwhelming response saying Russia and Belarus should stay banned.

https://twitter.com/Olympics/status/1641727033519616002?s=19

 

[Vagabond]

The Olympics Twitter account asked this morning what sports you are looking forward to in Paris.

Figure skating.

 

[Karen-W]

Figure skating.

Yes, it will be a glorious day when the correct three countries receive their medals and jump onto the podium together at long last.

 

[Hedwig]

The Olympics Twitter account asked this morning what sports you are looking forward to in Paris. Overwhelming response saying Russia and Belarus should stay banned.

https://twitter.com/Olympics/status/1641727033519616002?s=19

That gives me hope!

 

[Asli]

There are also several change.org petitions on this subject but none of them seems to attract sufficient attention at the moment.

 

[On My Own]

There are also several change.org petitions on this subject but none of them seems to attract sufficient attention at the moment.

I think it should be circulated on twitter via some sports blogger, that's the way that comes to mind.

 

[coppertop1]

Well there are quite a few.
But most often in war there is no clear aggressor and no clear innocent party
Although there have been instances of that and the World did not care.

or not enough people did to make a difference

No reason not to care now and tell the playground bully that we are not silent anymore.

Exactly.

France is taking a stand

 

[Hedwig]

 

[Mafke]

Who's to say the corruption doesn't exist within the ISU as well and isn't continuing?

One form of corruption (ISU) doesn't legitimize another (whole dope-and-corruption soaked olympics)

 

[hoptoad]

Exactly.

France is taking a stand

Good for them! I didn't know this:

Fencing is an influential sport in Olympic circles. IOC president Thomas Bach is a former fencer who won gold at the 1976 Olympics. Russia's and Ukraine's national Olympic bodies are headed by ex-fencers

I hope this resistance multiplies across sports and countries.

 

[On My Own]

One form of corruption (ISU) doesn't legitimize another (whole dope-and-corruption soaked olympics)

But it does delegitimize your point about how the Olympics are corrupt and therefore the world championships are perfectly okay as the big event on sports calendar...

And the ISU apparently catering to Lakernik even now only serves to further my question about what the point you're making even is... ISU is also hopelessly corrupt... Therefore, what is the point in being fine with the world championships? The absence of Russian athletes and our favorites getting medals doesn't change much of that corruption?