Representatives of aggressor countries should be excluded from world sports
Sports ministers from 35 countries signed a joint declaration demanding suspension of membership Russia and Belarus in international federations.
The joint statement was signed by 25 EU countries, as well as representatives of the UK, Liechtenstein, Iceland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Norway. Bulgaria, Hungary and Switzerland were not among the signatories.
“We demand to suspend the membership of the sports federations of Russia and Belarus in international organizations, to exclude representatives of these countries from the governing bodies of international federations, and also to suspend broadcasts of international sporting events in Russia,” said Polish Minister of Sports and Tourism Kamil Bortnichuk.
The signatories also called on the international sports community to continue to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people and help Ukrainian sports.
In February, the International Olympic Committee called on sports organizations to remove athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus from all competitions, as well as to postpone or cancel competitions in aggressor countries in connection with the invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine.
In June, the International Judo Federation admitted Russian and Belarusian athletes to the Grand Slam tournament in Ulaanbaatar. In response to the decision of the IJF, the Judo Federation of Ukraine refused to participate in all competitions under the auspices of the international organization.
Ukraine has been opposing Russian military aggression for the 128th day.
Source: Sportarena
