Columns Putin has been flattered by the sport, but now it’s finally over

Ukraine sports star, now 21-year-old two-time judo world champion, European champion and Olympic medalist Daria Bilodid has tweeted last Thursday:

“Today I woke up at six o’clock to fire in Kiev. I have no words, I am scared and I pray for my family and my country. Russia started bombing us, the war started. Why? Russia and Belarus, stop it! We want peace, we want to live! ”

The horror of Bilodide was caused by another judoka. Vladimir Putin struck the world with a start by waging a full-scale war for which there is no rational reason. According to the Judoinside site Bilodid asked Russian athletes to protest the attack.

Other the world has surprised with its unity. It is even reflected in the resistance of sport to resistance. The sport has never been worthwhile in the fight against tyrannical rulers. Money and arenas have been worth it, whatever the dictatorship behind.

The Russian ruler, who has poisoned his opponents and captured protesters, has so far been spectacularly flattered, especially in his own favorite sports, judo and hockey. Among other things, Putin has been appointed honorary president of two international judo federations.

The pessimist did not dare to wait for a brisk step to the right of history. However, the International Judo Federation (IJF) announced on Sunday that it had terminated Putin’s honorary presidency. The European Judounion EJU announced a similar decision a day later, when the Russian president of the union, Sergei Soloveitsik, had first resigned. Both unions canceled their upcoming competition in Russia.

Pleasant and the language-speaking Solo Knife has been praised in Europe as a devoted judo man who has also patched up the union’s budgets with Russian money. He did not stand behind Putin’s rejection, but did not stand in the way. He announced his resignation in order to maintain the unity of the judo community.

“You’ve known me for years, and no one doubts that my heart doesn’t belong to judo. However, it is equally true that it belongs to my country, Russia, ”Soloveitsik said in a statement.

In this way, Putin’s war isolates those Russians who would like to work with others. It remains to be seen how long they will play on their president’s team.

The spirit of the game seems to be going against Putin against the rest of the world. The sports community may also change in a hurry.

The author is the editorial editor of HS.