07/03/2022
RFDF RESPONSE TO THE EXCLUDED RUSSIA FROM FLYING DISC FEDERATIONS MEMBERS
Decision about sanctions against the RFDF was not a surprise. It follows the position stated by the International Olympic Committee. Flying Disc Federations had to follow the lead of many other international sports Federations.
One of the key principles of all almost all sports is that it’s supposed to be above politics and not influenced by political influence. Fundamental principles as they stated in Olympic Charter:
- The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity (2);
- Recognising that sport occurs within the framework of society, sports organisations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality. They have the rights and obligations of autonomy, which include freely establishing and controlling the rules of sport, determining the structure and governance of their organisations, enjoying the right of elections free from any outside influence and the responsibility for ensuring that principles of good governance be applied (5);
- The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, s*x, s*xual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status (6).
But the RFDF ban decision made goes against these very fundamental principles. Ultimate athletes from Russia are not responsible for the actions currently taking place in Ukraine, as we stated in the Official statement of RFDF. But decision about RFDF ban discriminates all Russian athletes only because they were born in this country. Not because they did something wrong. That’s discrimination by nationality and that’s a fact. Many Russian players live abroad and they are also discriminated by this decision. And if the objective of this decision is to force Russian people (athletes) to go take the streets and demand that Russian government stops the war then this are violates Russian law and forcing them to risk everything they have. When USA and EU governments with their unlimited possibilities and power can do nothing to fix this nightmare what do expect from ordinary people and athletes?
Also there is no legal or historical examples for this position in past human history. There were plenty of war conflicts around the World that took place in the past: Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yugoslavia etc. No countries who initiated or supported these conflicts were banned from International Sport Competitions. Probably because they are regular humans who should not be responsible for the actions of their governments. It doesn’t matter which country was the aggressor and which country suffered, lives of regular people always get butchered.
The goal of every sport is to unite people together but not to promote conflict between them & divide them even more. Many of foreign players know us very well. We played together and against each other, we party together. We are the same people you knew before. And only by showing to the World that we are united will it have the real effect. As the classics told us: "Make love not War". Don’t make this conflict deeper than it is. Don’t promote the conflict in our sport community!
