“I do not agree with the IOC’s decision. It is shocking and completely unfounded. I am convinced that these will be the darkest Olympic Games I can remember. The WTA management has been trying to convince me for two years that allowing Russians and Belarusians to participate in competitions is wrong, too bad. So the IOC’s decision did not surprise me, but I will continue to explain why it is a bad idea. Allowing Russians and Belarusians to participate at the Games is a total misunderstanding.
I don’t think Ukrainian athletes will agree to be in the same waiting room with Russian and Belarusian athletes, let alone compete directly. Nobody knows what could happen.
In 2022, I attended several tournaments where Russian flags were flying in the stands, and it made me furious. I ran to the organizers instead of focusing on the games. I’m sure something similar will happen at the Olympics.
Our countries should not participate in the same Olympic Games. Someone should think about what it means to see Russians happy.
I hope that Russians, within the framework of the Games, will show true patriotism and refuse to compete under a neutral flag. I hope that the honor and pride of the country will become more than just a slogan for them. I don’t want to see them at the Olympics, so I hope this scenario comes true. I wish all Russian athletes to show solidarity with those who will definitely not make it to the Olympics and will not even try to participate in the qualifications. If they sincerely love their country, they must be ready to sacrifice themselves and refuse to participate in the Olympic Games,” Tsurenko emphasized in an interview with the Polish newspaper Sportowe Fakty.
Source: Sport
I’m Rose Brown , a journalist and writer with over 10 years of experience in the news industry. I specialize in covering tennis-related news for Athletistic, a leading sports media website. My writing is highly regarded for its quick turnaround and accuracy, as well as my ability to tell compelling stories about the sport.
