The Russian Union of Athletes made a big statement on the sanctions against the Russians
The Russian Union of Athletes (RCA) made a big statement on the situation with sanctions against the Russians, who were suspended by many international federations.
“The Russian Union of Athletes cannot and will not remain aloof from the situation associated with unreasonable, inadequate and discriminatory sanctions that international sports authorities are now applying to all Russian and Belarusian athletes without exception.
Our organization brings together outstanding Olympians of different eras and generations, of different nationalities and origins. Many of them were contemporaries of global world political crises, military conflicts and political demarches. However, always and everywhere, remaining adherents and keepers of the Olympic traditions and values, the Olympic spirit and the unifying power of sport, they advocated peace, equality and consolidation of the Olympic community.
Bombing and ethnic cleansing in Yugoslavia, military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, genocides in Africa, Asia, Latin America. All this was very recently. Almost everywhere, NATO countries acted as the arbiter of fate, because of the actions of which thousands of people died, including innocent civilians. But we do not remember that the international Olympic movement or any of the Russian athletes took the initiative to remove from participation in competitions their colleagues from those countries that, under one pretext or another, were directly involved in the conduct of hostilities on the territories of other states.
Sport has always been an ambassador of peace and goodwill, creating opportunities to help resolve any conflicts. This is the mission of the modern Olympic movement. This is how we thought a few days ago, before the moment when the International Olympic Committee and a number of international sports federations, having no legitimate grounds and in violation of all regulatory documents, decided to deprive Russian and Belarusian athletes of their legal right to participate in competitions.
Before our eyes, for the sake of political demands and tendentious external influence, the tragic destruction of the Olympic family, of which we have always been proud to be, is taking place. We categorically oppose the sporting genocide of Russian and Belarusian athletes. We appeal to all responsible and involved persons and organizations. Revisit your latest decisions! From a historical point of view, they are disastrous for the Olympic community. And they clearly make it clear that none of the athletes today can be sure of the security and, moreover, guarantees of their rights. If in the present we are unable to maintain unity and mutual understanding, then in the near future we will face the most negative consequences of this confrontation, ”the RCC statement, published on the website of the Russian Olympic Committee, says.