2024-04-12 15:27:29
The country’s interim Minister of Youth and Sports, Matvejus Bednas, told “5 Kanal” television about the invitations sent by the Russians to Ukrainian federations. As the minister assured, Ukrainian athletes, of course, will not participate in the pseudo-competition, which the Russians intend to turn into a political show.
The door to the Paris Olympics is almost closed for Russian athletes and national teams, so the sports authorities of the aggressor who started the war in Ukraine have come up with an alternative to the Olympics and will hold the “Friendship” Games.
Russian athletes will mostly participate in them, and state bureaucrats have assured that the bonuses for places in these games will match those of the Olympics.
“We also appealed to the Ukrainian Olympic Committee, which is a partner of the ministry, and to other countries that are our friends.
We found out that no one from those countries will delegate their athletes to compete in Russia. No high level athlete will go there.
Because participation in those “Friendship” games will put an end to their careers and close the door to international sports,” said M. Bednas.
Some time ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) strongly criticized the Russian authorities for organizing the “Friendship” Games.
“This is a cynical attempt by Russia to politicize sports,” the organization said at the time.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has also called for a boycott of artificially contrived competitions.
The Russians will hold their “Friendship” meeting on September 15-29. They try to lure athletes from other countries by assuring that they will pay all possible entry and living expenses and give bonuses for starts.
2024-04-12 15:27:29