russia’s return to world sport is appeasement of the aggressor
Despite the bloody war russia is waging against Ukraine, international sports institutions continue to make concessions to the aggressor state.
▫️ The International Gymnastics Federation (World Gymnastics) has officially lifted all restrictions on russia and belarus. The Executive Committee’s decision allows athletes from these countries to compete under national symbols, with their flag and anthem at all international events.
For the kremlin, each such admission serves as a strong boost for domestic propaganda. russia uses it as proof of a “breakthrough from isolation” and “ineffective sanctions.”
For years, russia has promoted the convenient myth that “sport is outside politics.” However, in international competitions, athletes represent their state first and foremost. For russia, sport has always been political — part of state ideology and a key element of its “soft power” strategy to shape a positive image abroad.
Allowing russians to compete under their national flag while their state wages a terrorist war and kills Ukrainians every day is a concession to russian propaganda. The return of the aggressor’s symbols to global arenas undermines the values of the international sporting movement.
