Ukrainian basketball player Uro-Nile: If you are against the war, but at the same time you receive money from the aggressor country, this is just hypocrisy

Ukrainian basketball player Miriam Uro-Nile spoke about her attitude to athletes who are silent during the war in Ukraine and go to competitions in Russia.

“What do you feel about Russia? Only hate. It’s probably wrong to say that, but there are no other emotions. Soon it will be a year since the war is going on. But all Ukrainians are in pain as if they started bombing the country today. The pain doesn’t subside. On February 24 (I was playing in Switzerland at the time), my mother called me at five in the morning: “We are at war!” She was crying wildly, and I started screaming: “I’m going home!” Then came the news, met with the coaches of the club. I decided to stay, and my mother and the late grandmother dissuaded me. Like, they feel better if I’m safe.”

“Do I understand Belarusian athletes who are silent during the war? No. They tell me, they say, we are afraid, we can be imprisoned. But what’s the alternative? Be silent? This is not good for anyone. Nobody! Thinking that you can sit it out and then choose a winner is the worst thing. I still don’t understand those who go to competitions in Russia today. There are also enough Belarusian basketball players who play for Russian clubs. They probably make good money there – after all, many Americans and Europeans have left. If you are against the war, but at the same time you receive money from the aggressor country, this is just hypocrisy. And terribly human! I despise such people.”

“I do not agree that sport is out of politics. Today politics in all spheres. Every country has freedom of speech. At least it should be. Let it be impossible to do something in Belarus as openly as in Ukraine, but you can write in your social networks, express your position. At least one post – it all starts with small details. Every person loves sports. He will read the words of his idol, whom he subscribed to, think about it, study the information. Social media is a huge force! And to argue, they say, I will speak out, but this will not affect anything … try for a start! Someone will think that it is easier for me to call for action, because Ukraine is being bombed. However, I would not wish anyone to experience this situation. Even enemies I don’t have.”

28-year-old Miriam Uro-Nile now plays for the Belgian club Castors Brain. In the 2015/16 season, she became the champion of Belarus and won the country’s Cup as part of Horizont.

Uro-Nile played for the Ukrainian national team in the 2023 Women’s EuroBasket qualifiers. The team of Srdjan Radulovic suffered a second defeat in a row and dropped to the third line of the quartet B. The final part of the selection will take place in winter, the Ukrainian team will play on February 9 with Finland, and on February 12 with Lithuania.