Polish President: "Russian athletes should bear the burden of their country, not demand participation in international competiti

Polish President Andrzej Duda spoke out about the expulsion of Russian athletes from international competitions.

"The situation in the world of sports is not easy. We know very well that in sports it is customary to treat everything as if nothing is going on. But we are trying hard to convey to the world that this is not a war waged by Putin and the Russian army without any support. This is a war that, unfortunately, has the support of a large part of Russian society.

So there is no way that the world can pretend that this is a normal situation and that Russian athletes are in a normal situation.

Of course, someone will say that it is not their fault. But it is not. They are Russian athletes, and so they too have a certain responsibility for their country, for their coat of arms, flag and anthem. Not only do people enjoy the various benefits the country offers them, but they also bear a burden. And Russian athletes should courageously bear the burden of their country, not demand participation in international sporting events.

There can be no place in normal international life for an aggressor state that violates international law and violates it every day, whose soldiers rape, kill and destroy the lives of others. Otherwise it would be a distortion of the truth. And in our opinion, the idea of sports, noble competitions, and the Olympic idea is based on truth.

From the very beginning, Poland has been firmly committed to the most serious sanctions against Russia in sport as well. Polish Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk is fighting for the world to boycott the Olympics in solidarity if the IOC decides to allow Russians to participate in the event," Sportowe Fakty quoted Duda as saying.