For many years, the sports associations of Russia have courted President Vladimir Putin (69). Fifa awarded him the contract for the 2018 World Cup, the IIHF awarded two ice hockey world championships to the Russians within seven years (2016 and 2023)..
Now the sport is turning away from the Russian ruler: the end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been decided, and the Sbornaja and the Belarusian national team are not allowed to take part in the 2022 ice hockey finals in Finland. Only what will become of the 2023 Ice Hockey World Championship in St. Petersburg is still open.
The Taekwondo World Association is now shaking Putin’s vanity a little: Because of his war of aggression on Ukraine, Russia’s president was stripped of his honorary black belt, which was awarded in 2013. The martial artists follow the world judo association, which has already revoked Putin’s honorary presidency.
An official statement read: “World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which violate World Taekwondo’s vision of “Peace is Precious Than Triumph” and World Taekwondo’s values of respect and tolerance. In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorable ninth dan black belt awarded to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013.”
In addition, the World Federation and the European Taekwondo Union will no longer organize or recognize Taekwondo events in Russia and Belarus. During competitions, neither the flags of the two countries nor their anthems are played.
︎ The men’s volleyball world championship was also taken away from Russia. A new organizer for the World Cup tournament from August 26th to September 11th is now being sought, said the world association FIVB.
︎ As the International Skating Union (ISU) announced, figure skaters, speed skaters and short trackers from Russia and Belarus are now excluded from all international competitions. This applies, among other things, to the world championships in figure skating from March 21 to 27 in Montpellier, France, the all-around world championship for speed skaters next weekend in Hamar, Norway, and the short track world championship from March 18 to 20 in Montreal, Canada.
