While the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, is waging a war once morest Ukraine, several players in world sport are distancing themselves from Russia. This is not the option chosen by the International Volleyball Federation which indicated on Twitter that it wanted to maintain the World Championships in Russia, as planned, from August 26 to September 11, 2022. “The FIVB does not follow the other governing bodies of sport: the 2022 Men’s World Championship remains in Russia, ”she wrote on the social network.
Citing this FIVB tweet, France forward receiver Earvin Ngapeth posted a series of laughing emojis, wryly, before adding “sans moi merci”. A reaction that easily suggests all the harm that the Olympic champion thinks of this decision. The French sports ministry has also invited athletes not to go to Russia.
In the wake of these statements, the French Federation has taken a clear position. Its president Éric Tanguy has thus made it known that the Blues, Olympic champions, will not go to Russia. “The safety of our fellow citizens is our priority and we will do everything we can to guarantee it during national or international competitions. In this context and at this stage, France will not participate in the World Championship if its organization was maintained in Russia, ”he wrote in a press release.
“While the FIVB believes that sport should always remain separate from politics, we are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants in our events, which is our top priority”, justified the Federation with Archyde.com.
FIVB does not follow IOC recommendations
This decision contravenes the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has called on the various international federations to relocate the sporting events planned in Russia. A recommendation followed by UEFA, among others, which chose to organize the final of the Champions League at the Stade de France, initially scheduled for Saint Petersburg on May 28.
Other players in European sport have also shown their opposition to this war led by Vladimir Putin. Thus, the German club Schalke 04 (2nd division), sponsored by Gazprom, has decided to no longer display the name of the Russian gas company on its shirts. The Polish football federation has indicated that it does not wish to play its play-off for the 2022 World Cup once morest Russia and all Euroleague basketball matches involving Russian teams have been postponed.