According to comprehensive media reports, the International Judo Association issued a statement today saying, “In view of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the International Judo Association announced the suspension of the status of the honorary chairman and ambassador of the Putin Association.”
Putin used to be an excellent judo athlete with a high rank in judo, winning 8th dan in 2014. Since 2008, he has been serving as the honorary chairman of the International Judo Federation.
Also, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has put St. Petersburg into question as the tournament’s host city. As a sanction, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has decided to move the Champions League final from Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France in Paris in May. Such a final relocation is the first since 2006. Russian and Ukrainian clubs participating in UEFA competitions will have to play their home games at neutral venues “until further notice”.
Russian Football Federation President Alexander Dyukov expressed dissatisfaction with UEFA’s decision on the 25th. In a statement, he said the relocation of the venue for the Champions League final was a “political decision”.
At the same time, the local organizing committee in St. Petersburg expressed disappointment that the plan fell through. “Russia Today (RT)” quoted a relevant person as commenting, “Russia has proven to be the perfect organizer of major international sports events and a reliable partner of world sports. In the years of preparing for the Champions League final, we have met All the demands and wishes of UEFA have been fulfilled.”
According to reports, the 2022 World Cup qualifying match is scheduled to be played by Poland and Russia in Moscow on March 24. According to the original schedule, if Russia defeats Poland in the qualifying match on March 24, it will continue to face the winners of Sweden and the Czech Republic in Moscow on March 29.
However, Cezary Kulesza, president of the Polish Football Association, said on Saturday (26th) that Poland boycotted the game because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Kulesa said, “The time for consultation has passed, it is time to act, as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has intensified, Poland has no intention of playing this qualifying match with Russia”; adding that this is “the only right thing to do” decision”.
He said he would share a position with the Swedish and Czech football associations to the International Football Federation (FIFA) to ask FIFA to find an alternative venue for the qualifying tournament scheduled to be held in Russia.
According to reports, as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate, the Russian sports world has been under pressure from many parties. In addition to football, Sochi, Russia, is also very likely to lose the chance to host the 2022 F1 Russian Grand Prix.
The F1 official issued a statement on social media on the 25th, saying that after discussions among the team, the FIA, and F1, they agreed that it is “impossible” to hold a race in Russia at the moment, and “hope that the conflict situation will eventually be resolved peacefully and quickly.”
However, the agency has not yet decided to cancel the event, and the official promotion company of the Russian Grand Prix also stated that there is no need for spectators to rush to refund tickets, and the cooperation between the two parties is currently suspended due to “force majeure”.
At present, the Haas F1 Team, sponsored by the Russian company Uralkali Trading, has removed the Russian elements of the body and replaced it with an all-white body.
