“Sports are a microcosm of society.” - Billie Jean King
The sports world has spoken out loudly against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. On Feb. 25, Ukrainian former world heavyweight boxing champion Vladimir Klitschko condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin. His brother and fellow former world champion Vitali Klitschko is mayor of Kyiv. They both took up arms against Russia, and are soon joined by countrymen and world champions Vasyl Lomachenko and Olejsandr Usyk. On Feb. 27, the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO unanimously decided to cut Russia off from any world title fights, and all boxing activities, essentially sending their boxing to a grinding halt.
Then on March 1, The International Olympic Committee urged sports federations worldwide to exclude athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus. On the same day, FIFA kicked Russia out of the World Cup, UEFA bans all Russian club teams, and World Taekwondo revoked Putin’s honorary black belt. Over the weekend, Paralympic athletes refused to compete against Russian and Belarusian athletes. Initially, the International Paralympic Committee said they would be allowed to compete under the Paralympic banner, not as nationals from those countries. But hours later, the IPC caved in to overwhelming protest, and disallowed them from playing.
These are not unprecedented events. South Africa was not allowed into the Olympic Games while apartheid was in force. (This led to controversial South African barefoot runner Zola Budd hurriedly getting British citizenship and tripping gold medal favorite Mary Decker.) Germany and Japan were not allowed to rejoin FIFA after World War II. In 1980, the US and its allies boycotted the Moscow Olympics. In retaliation, the Soviets skipped the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. Yugoslavia was expelled from the 1992 European Championships and stopped from qualifying for the 1994 World Cup amid the wars that ultimately tore it apart. Sanctions such as these are the only available protest to sports communities which are normally apolitical.
What does it matter if their athletes are unable to compete overseas? Why should we express our sentiments thusly? Some people say “It’s just sports.” Plain and simple, it is a sign of disapproval, an acknowledgment that things are not the way they were. Even in families, negative actions face reprisal and dissociation. We don’t want to play with you anymore. And if enough people say, “Enough!” It adds up. If enough systems are clogged and unable to function, it will hurt enough to force change. Being unable to do what you want, to live your purpose, is the most painful experience an athlete can go through. For an athlete whose career is limited by time, the passing moment is irreplaceable.
Sport may be its own world, but it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Sport is where we learn about each other, where principles are enforced. We don’t tolerate cheats and bullies. Victory is earned fairly. Force is not tolerated. Although some people would say it’s unfair to the athletes, who had nothing to do with the political turmoil in the region. But it is the one place where the rage of freedom-loving people of other countries can be expressed. It is an expression of solidarity that will record where we stand for eternity. Though the war in one man’s decision, it will give Putin’s supporters pause.