They want to leave Russia without broadcasting sports competitions and suspend its membership in international federations because of the situation in Ukraine. The corresponding statement was signed by the sports ministers of 33 states, said the head of the Polish Ministry of Sports Kamil Bortnichuk.
According to him, representatives of 25 EU countries, Great Britain, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Norway and Canada left their autographs under this document. At the same time, Bulgaria, Hungary and Switzerland sign refused.
“We demand the exclusion of representatives of Russia and Belarus from the governing bodies of international federations, as well as the suspension of television broadcasts of international sporting events in the territories of Russia and Belarus,” Bortnichuk said (quoted from RIA Novosti). He explained that it is also about “the suspension of the membership of the sports federations of Russia and Belarus in international federations.”
The Pole explained the joint statement by the fact that what happened in a number of sports, such as bobsleigh and skeleton, where the Russians managed to cancel their suspension, could “open the door for the return of Russian federations, Russian and Belarusian athletes to world sports.”
The suspension of Russian athletes from international competitions began in February 2022 due to a Russian special operation in Ukraine. So, the Russian national football team was unable to take part in the play-offs for entering the World Cup, and the hockey team also missed the world championship. Petersburg was deprived of the Champions League football final and the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championship.