Diametrically opposed to the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games with or without a flag, is the former Ukrainian football player Andrei Shevchenko. The winner of the 2004 Ballon d’Or argued in a post on social media that such a decision will send the wrong message to the world that the war is over.
He also pointed out that sport cannot be a place for political gamesbut war is not something you can forget.
Analytically:
“There are no political games in sports, but war is much more than politics. Major sporting events like the Olympics are a huge opportunity to share a message with people around the world. If the athletes from Russia and Belarus compete with or without a flag it will be treated as a statement by the Olympic committee to the whole world that the war is over and that you can forget everything and forgive everyone.
But the war is not over, the war every day destroys our homes, turns our children’s lives into ruins and threatens our existence. People should remember this. The world must know that every day we fight for peace and the defense of our freedom.
I urge the Olympic committee not to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate until the war in Ukraine is over and to condemn Russian aggression in every way.”
Editor: Charalambos Lessis
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I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
