Despite the bloody war that Russia is waging against Ukraine, international sports institutions continue to make concessions to the aggressor state. This was stated by the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (CCD) in response to the International Gymnastics Federation lifting all restrictions on Russia and Belarus, UNN reports.
Details
The CCD recalled that the decision of the organization's executive committee allows athletes from these countries to compete under national symbols, with their flag and anthem, at all international competitions.
For the Kremlin, every such admission is a strong impulse for internal state propaganda. Russia uses this as proof of "breaking the isolation" and "non-working sanctions,"
They point out that for many years, the Russian Federation built a myth beneficial to itself about "sport being beyond politics," but in international competitions, athletes primarily represent their state: for Russia, sport has always been politics — part of the state ideology and one of the elements of the "soft power" strategy to form a positive image of the Russian Federation in the eyes of the world.
"The admission of Russians under the national flag at a time when their state is waging a terrorist war and killing Ukrainians every day is playing along with Russian propaganda. The return of the occupiers' symbols to the world arenas negates the values of the international sports movement," the CCD concludes.
Context
The day before, the International Gymnastics Federation allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in international competitions under national symbols — with the flag and anthem.
The decision was made following recommendations from the International Olympic Committee, which in early May called on sports federations to ease restrictions on Belarus. At the same time, no separate similar recommendations regarding Russia were provided.
Earlier, the United World Wrestling completely lifted sanctions on Russia and Belarus. Athletes from these countries are again allowed to compete under their own flags and anthems.
World Aquatics lifts sanctions on Russian and Belarusian swimmers13.04.26, 16:19