Current Events > Ukraine upset as Wimbledon has lifted its ban on Russian and Belarusian players

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https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2023/03/31/wimbledon-russia-belarus-tennis-players-ban/

Russian and Belarusian players will be able to compete at Wimbledon as neutral athletes after the All England Club on Friday reversed its ban from last year. The players must sign declarations of neutrality and comply with appropriate conditions, including not expressing support for Russias invasion of Ukraine. This was an incredibly difficult decision, not taken lightly or without a great deal of consideration for those who will be impacted, All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt said in a statement. The players cannot receive funding from the Russian or Belarusian states, including sponsorship from companies operated or controlled by the states. Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and Russian players Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are among the players who can return.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned the reversal as immoral. Has Russia ceased its aggression or atrocities? No, its just that Wimbledon decided to accommodate two accomplices in crime. I call on the UK government to deny visas to their players, Kuleba wrote on Twitter. Other tennis tournaments have allowed Russian and Belarusian players to compete as neutral athletes their nationalities are not listed in the brackets, official results or graphics on TV broadcasts of matches. The womens and mens professional tennis tours last year imposed heavy fines on the LTA and threatened to pull its tournaments. The effect of being expelled from the tours, the LTA said, would be very damaging and far reaching for the game in our country. The ATP and WTA had also responded to last years ban by not awarding ranking points for Wimbledon an unprecedented move against the prestigious event.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

There was supposed to be an international effort to keep Russian athletes locked out of all world sporting events. To put pressure on the Russian citizens to then pressure their government to stop the war or maybe overthrow Putin

Once again, money > morality.

Zikten posted...

There was supposed to be an international effort to keep Russian athletes locked out of all world sporting events. To put pressure on the Russian citizens to then pressure their government to stop the war or maybe overthrow Putin

Punishing the citizens for the behaviors of their leaders isn't fair tho.

Iodine posted...

Punishing the citizens for the behaviors of their leaders isn't fair tho.

How do we end the war? Making the Ukrainian citizens die isn't fair either

Zikten posted...

Making the Ukrainian citizens die isn't fair either

this. it was russia plan all along. target the citizens instead of actual military targets.

Seems very Underpants Gnome-like to assume that punishing random Russian civilians for the crime of being a Russian citizen was supposed to somehow coalesce into a movement where the Russian government is overthrown.

Zikten posted...

There was supposed to be an international effort to keep Russian athletes locked out of all world sporting events. To put pressure on the Russian citizens to then pressure their government to stop the war or maybe overthrow Putin

I support keeping Russian athletes banned from international competitions but the idea that having athletes banned from sporting events is going to cause the people to rise up and otherthrow Putin is lol.

Zikten posted...

How do we end the war? Making the Ukrainian citizens die isn't fair either

Let's be honest, in most parts of the world, "average citizen" has little to no real direct impact on the acts of their government. Even more, under governments such as Russia & Belarus. Besides, those restrictions for sponsorship are such a handicap, I doubt most could enter anyway.

DoomsSD posted...

Fuck off Wimbledon.

it's fair game since america loves football...

Wimbledon sucks.