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

[airgelaal]

russia uses money and blackmail. Everyone has skeletons in their closet.
I am sure that all those organizations that support "neutral athletes" think about athletes in the last place

 

[ChelleC]

The thing that the IOC should not be allowed to ignore is how Russia uses the Olympics to cover their wars. First Crimea during Sochi and then the rest of Ukraine during Beijing...

And the invasion of Georgia in 2008, happened on the same day as the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics.

 

[On My Own]

And the invasion of Georgia in 2008, happened on the same day as the Opening Ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics.

Seems more like it's using its and its friend's Olympics for this.

 

[airgelaal]

Declaration of Belarusian Free Sports towards participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Olympic Movement

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621491429787799552

 

[MacMadame]

Declaration of Belarusian Free Sports towards participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in Olympic Movement

https://twitter.com/x/status/1621491429787799552

What is the "Belarusian Sports Solidarity Association"?

 

[Primorskaya]

I voted. No way should they be back and at this point, they shouldn't ever be allowed back.

I think it's really getting to Russia that not only are they banned but that figure skating is doing fine without them. They hate it.

You can tell it's really working by the amount of what is intended as condescension but comes across as envy in all media outlets pissing on the Euros winners or saying that a Russian won the US Nats. One more reason why the ban must stay, the pain of missing out might prove educative.
Plus, human rights, my foot! Nobody ever died from not going to the Olympics. Missiles, on the other hand...

 

[Yyzskater]

If athletes can compete under a neutral banner to get around competing for their country, then they should allow any athlete to compete under it.

Citizenship issues? Neutral banner
Federation did choose you? Neutral banner

Otherwise, it's just allows Russia/Belarus to participate regardlessly.

 

[airgelaal]

What is the "Belarusian Sports Solidarity Association"?

sports officials and athletes, who opposed the Lukashenko regime. Of course, they do not have an official status, but at least they were able to show that not all Belarusians are such cowards. And yes, athletes in Belarus are indeed in prison. But they are still not silent. While the russians...

 

[greenapple]

Timothy Snyder, a Professor of History at Yale, tweeted this a few days ago:

Ukrainian decathlete Volodymyr Androshchuk will not be representing his country at the Paris Olympics because he was just killed by the Russian armed forces. In other news, the IOC announces that Russian athletes are welcome in Paris.

 

[Aussie Willy]

Timothy Snyder, a Professor of History at Yale, tweeted this a few days ago:

Ukrainian decathlete Volodymyr Androshchuk will not be representing his country at the Paris Olympics because he was just killed by the Russian armed forces. In other news, the IOC announces that Russian athletes are welcome in Paris.

Of course. Gutless.

 

[coppertop1]

I don't want to hear anymore about the ban being unfair to Russian athletes. Not one word. The thought of Russian athletes being allowed to compete is sick? These athletes support the war. They spout propaganda. They're part of the issue

You can tell it's really working by the amount of what is intended as condescension but comes across as envy in all media outlets pissing on the Euros winners or saying that a Russian won the US Nats. One more reason why the ban must stay, the pain of missing out might prove educative.
Plus, human rights, my foot! Nobody ever died from not going to the Olympics. Missiles, on the other hand...

They're such a weird combination of superiority and insecurity. They really can't take any criticism or even anyone saying they do like the Russians.

Ekaterina Borbrova recently said women's skating has gone back ten years. It's funny because who were the leading women during that time? Carolina Kostner, Kim Yuna and Mao Asada. Not really as insulting as she thinks. I feel like women's figure skating is in recovery and it should be allowed to flourish within the Eteri Monopoly.

 

[MacMadame]

I feel like women's figure skating is in recovery and it should be allowed to flourish within the Eteri Monopoly.

Even if they were there, you figure that it's a rebuilding year for them too. The year after the Olympics always is.

 

[TAHbKA]

Think Vasiljevs is the first skater to openly comment on the possibiliy of the Russians coming back? can't believe am saying that, but for once I 100% agree with Vasiljevs.

 

[Finnice]

Think Vasiljevs is the first skater to openly comment on the possibiliy of the Russians coming back? can't believe am saying that, but for once I 100% agree with Vasiljevs.

What did he say?

 

[Jeanine]

What did he say?

https://twitter.com/winkosha/status/1621813563269550081?s=61&t=thOBF17K1jYQMJnCRGzGzA

I think this will bring you to a screenshot of the quote, if I’ve done it right!

 

[Finnice]

https://twitter.com/winkosha/status/1621813563269550081?s=61&t=thOBF17K1jYQMJnCRGzGzA

I think this will bring you to a screenshot of the quote, if I’ve done it right!

Thank you! And thank you, Deniss! Great that someone dares to say no.

 

[PRlady]

Thank you! And thank you, Deniss! Great that someone dares to say no.

I think the Poles and Baltics and a lot of others that Russia rolled over for 45 years are holding the weaker-willed Europeans who didn’t experience it to account in general. I hope more skaters follow Deniss’ lead.

 

[Primorskaya]

Think Vasiljevs is the first skater to openly comment on the possibiliy of the Russians coming back? can't believe am saying that, but for once I 100% agree with Vasiljevs.

What did you disagree with him about? I've never read any interviews of him so I know nothing of his opinions...

 

[TAHbKA]

What did you disagree with him about? I've never read any interviews of him so I know nothing of his opinions...

Me neither. His answers to the questions usually have nothing to do with the question asked and seem like a pile of unrelated words.

 

[Primorskaya]

Me neither. His answers to the questions usually have nothing to do with the question asked and seem like a pile of unrelated words.

Which makes agreeing with him difficult, I can see that
At least he found his voice on an important issue!

 

[karmena]

... or rather was as pushed to do so. A direct question was asked to him, so it was not he who stood up and said this by his own initiation. And it is a huge difference.

And there is nothing Latvian in him. He is Russian by blood.

 

[reut]

Which makes agreeing with him difficult, I can see that
At least he found his voice on an important issue!

He had some great interviews published this season. For example,
http://absoluteskating.com/interviews/2023denissvasiljevs.html
Or this very recent one in Latvian, but Google translate is ok:
https://sportacentrs.com/ziemas_sports/slidosana/23122022-vasiljevs_mans_lielakais_ienaidnieks_ir_m
Depends on journalist and questions I guess.

 

[Trillian]

I think the Poles and Baltics and a lot of others that Russia rolled over for 45 years are holding the weaker-willed Europeans who didn’t experience it to account in general. I hope more skaters follow Deniss’ lead.

North American skaters have always been trained to be as apolitical as possible, and I honestly think that’s doing them a disservice. “Just don’t say anything remotely controversial, ever” is not realistic media training at this point, for a lot of reasons. If the governing bodies want these skaters to promote the sport in the media for them, they need to be realistic in terms of how they equip the athletes to do that. I hope organizations like USFS and others are making the athletes aware they’ll have support from their NGB if they do want to speak up in solidarity with the Ukrainian skaters.

 

[greenapple]

And there is nothing Latvian in him. He is Russian by blood.

As he was born in Latvia that makes him 100% Latvian. It is irrelevant where his parents or ancestors came from.

 

[Winnipeg]

I agree with the poster who said if Russian athletes are allowed to compete under a neutral flag, then any other athlete should be able to as well.............omit the rule about MUST be a citizen of the country you are representing..........because I don't think you can be a citizen of a non country?

 

[reut]

I'm absolutely against this "neutral flag" idea, but suppose they go for it, how many spots do these "neutrals" get? One? Three? As many as possible?

 

[TAHbKA]

I have a feeling it's not the skaters who will be the biggest problem, but the fans. I somehow doubt it will only be the real figure skating fans who will show up for the competition, but the payed morons who don't know the difference between figure skating and football. We already witnessed that in Sochi Olympics, when the real Russian figure skating fans couldn't afford much more than the highest stands and most of the crowd were people who knew how to wave flags, but had no idea what figure skating was. As badly as sending a `wave' in the audience during the pairs warm up.
Imagine what the payed trolls with the flags would do in a competition with the `neutral' skaters....

 

[Evgeniafan]

Think Vasiljevs is the first skater to openly comment on the possibiliy of the Russians coming back? can't believe am saying that, but for once I 100% agree with Vasiljevs.

Deniss is a well spoken young man, why are you surprised you agree with him?

 

[On My Own]

North American skaters have always been trained to be as apolitical as possible, and I honestly think that’s doing them a disservice. “Just don’t say anything remotely controversial, ever” is not realistic media training at this point, for a lot of reasons. If the governing bodies want these skaters to promote the sport in the media for them, they need to be realistic in terms of how they equip the athletes to do that. I hope organizations like USFS and others are making the athletes aware they’ll have support from their NGB if they do want to speak up in solidarity with the Ukrainian skaters.

I don't think I expect most to, honestly. I'd love to see it happen, though.

Is it happening for American and Canadian summer sports bodies? It's the more urgent issue right now.

 

[greenapple]

Me neither. His answers to the questions usually have nothing to do with the question asked and seem like a pile of unrelated words.

This is so true. Deniss seems to be a super nice guy but he gets lost in these philosophic ramblings that are totally disconnected and what he is talking about is a complete mystery.