Czech police stopped a Russian tennis player from entering the country ahead of the WTA Prague Open tournament, organisers said on Friday, as a new government resolution banning athletes from Russia or Belarus caused the event to scratch other competitors.
The solidarity with the Ukranian friends is to ban russian or belarussian athletes? Even if they are against the war, which is a pretty dangerous position to be taking if they plan to get back to their country?
The same thing happened to South African atheists during Apartheid.
This.
Wimbledon banned russian and Belarusian athletes last year. With the ban being lifted for this year’s event. One Belarusian athlete (victoria azarenka) was even boo’d at Wimbledon after her loss against Ukraine athlete Elina Svitolina, who refused to shake hands with any Russian or Belarusian.
Azarenka is openly against the war and has been since the war started, but is still being treated unfairly as a villain.
I understand this is a near impossible task, but sports (particularly the athletes) and politics should stay separate.
That ship has sailed in the 1936 at the latest. Every authoritative regime will sooner or later try to use successes of their athletes for propaganda(the “neutral flag” sham notwithstanding). There is no reason to give them the opportunity.
And that it affects the careers of the athletes? Maybe, but let me remind you that Ukrainians are still dying, probably by hundreds a day. And so do their athletes.
So much this. If you allow your government to pull shit like that and expect your sports career to be unhampered in any way she should take the streets. Not whine.