Athletistic / Basketball. One of the main sporting events of the day was the release of American basketball player Brittney Griner. The athlete, who played for UMMC, brought a small batch of drugs to Russia, because of which she ended up in prison for 9 years.
But the American finally returned home. She was exchanged for Russian businessman Viktor Bout, accused in the United States of arms trafficking. For this, the Russian was imprisoned for 25 years.
We collected the reaction of athletes and politicians to the exchange.
Trump harshly criticized the authorities
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has opposed trading Greiner for Bout.
“What a ‘stupid’ and unpatriotic disgrace to the United States,” Trump tweeted on Truth Social.
He said the swap deal was not equivalent, given the seriousness of the US accusations against the anti-American stance of Bout and Greiner, who, Trump wrote, “openly hates the country.”
The politician wondered why the American Paul Whelan, convicted of espionage, was not included in the exchange.
The swap was also criticized by American UFC fighter Derek Brunson.
“Trading Victor Bout for Brittney Griner is like trading Tom Brady for Bobby Bush. Who benefits from this deal?” Brunson wrote on his social media, adding a frame from the movie “Mama’s Boy.”
American journalist Ray Laren also spoke scathingly of Greiner.
“I wonder if, now that the United States has compromised its national security to free Brittney Griner, will she stand up and sing the national anthem? My only hope is that Greiner will return to the United States filled with gratitude and ready to defend the national anthem”, wrote Ray Laren on his social networks.
Will American basketball players stop going to Russia?
But NBA commissioner Adam Silver was pleased with the trade.
“Brittney had to go through an unimaginable situation, and we are very happy to have her return home with her family and friends. We are grateful to the members of the NBA and WNBA for doing their best to attract the attention to the unfair circumstances of the Brittney case,” Adam Silver quotes Yahoo Sports.
WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) commissioner Cathy Engelbert commented on the trade.
“The WNBA is extremely grateful to the Biden administration, the president’s special envoy for hostage affairs, and everyone who played a role in bringing Brittney Griner home,” Engelbert said. by the press office of the Women’s National Basketball Association.
Sports commentator Vladimir Gomelsky said he was confident that Griner’s story would not deter foreign athletes from offers from Russia.
“I have been following the situation, but I can only comment on the consequences. Those who think that after Brittney foreigners will stop coming are idiots. They come for money. Detention, sentencing and exchange are a special case,” Gomelsky said as quoted by Sport24. .
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Source: Sport
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
