(Adnkronos) – The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has mobilized the world of sport which has responded strongly to the war. Many federations have responded with a clear stance, starting with the International Olympic Committee, IOC, which with an official statement recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes be banned from major international events. In addition, the Council of the International Paralympic Committee has decided that Russian and Belarusian athletes will participate as neutral in the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, starting on Friday. They will compete under the flag of the Paralympics and will not be included in the medal table.
The first events to be canceled were those that Russia should have hosted, namely the F1 Grand Prix in Sochi (the FIA has also decided that the country’s flags and anthems will not be admitted to the awards ceremonies, driver Nikita Mazepin will be able to race but as a neutral), the volleyball world championships, the junior swimming world championships in Kazan. Federations such as the FIS, badminton and boxing have removed sports competitions or fights from the calendar. Uefa was among the first to take a stand, moving the Champions League final scheduled for May 28 in Saint Petersburg to Paris.
In addition to the cancellation of events, the sanction against Moscow of the exclusion of athletes and teams was adopted. In football, Fifa and Uefa have decided the exclusion of Russia from the playoffs for the Qatar World Cup, the same fate suffered by the Russian clubs present in the European cups. Also cut sponsorships with Russian companies, Uefa, as well as Schalke 04, has ended the partnership with Gazprom in all competitions. Adidas, technical sponsor of the Russian national team, has suspended its partnership with the Russian Football Association with immediate effect.
The federations of ice hockey (IIHF), rugby (World Rugby), badminton (Bwf), skating (Isu) and alpine skiing (Fis) have all followed suit. In basketball, the participation of the three Russian clubs in the Euroleague has been suspended. In volleyball, Fivb and Cev have prohibited the Russians from participating at the level of national teams, clubs, but also officials, volleyball, beach volley and snow volleyball athletes in their competitions. The Cev has also suspended all the representatives of the two countries from their respective posts in the context of the activities of the European Confederation.
Yesterday World Atletics, the international athletics federation, announced the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes from all events organized by it, including the upcoming Eugene World Championships next July.
Tennis has also moved, the ITF, the International Tennis Federation, has suspended the Russian and Belarusian federations from team competitions. ATP and WTA will also allow Russian and Belarusian tennis players to take part in tournaments but without a flag.
A harsh condemnation for the atrocities of the war in Ukraine also came from the International Cycling Union, Uci, which on Tuesday evening decided to revoke the license of the Russian and Belarusian teams and to cancel all the planned events in the two countries by banning them from participation in international events.
Fina, the International Swimming Federation, has also acknowledged the indications of the IOC: “Until further notice, no athlete or manager of Russia or Belarus may participate under the name of their respective countries” in the competitions.
On a personal basis, several sports honors received by Russian President Vladimir Putin have also been withdrawn. Fina, the International Federation of Aquatic Disciplines, revoked the Fina order awarded to him in 2014. World Taekwando decided to withdraw the honorary black belt of ninth dan from Putin in 2013.
