Australian swimmers to boycott Russian meet as athletes join protests

Swimming Australia is expected to announce a boycott of two world championship events in Russia this year as a cascade of cancellations and protests against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine tore down the notion of sport as a politically neutral safe haven over the weekend.

While global swimming body FINA came under fire for hesitating to cancel the junior world championships and short course world championships, sources told the Herald and The Age that Australian swimmers would not compete at the events if they were not moved from the Russian city of Kazan.

Boycott: Australian swimmers such as Emma McKeon will not compete at an upcoming short course world championships if it stays on Russian soil. Credit: Getty

Swimming Australia chief Eugenie Buckley has been locked in negotiations with Australia’s Pan-Pacific allies Canada and the United States, frustrated by FINA’s reluctance to move on the issue but unwilling to criticise what is a new administration. An announcement from the three nations was expected as early as Monday.

The news came as the UEFA stripped St Petersburg of hosting rights for the Champions League final, Formula One cancelled the Russian Grand Prix and Rugby Europe cancelled a 2023 World Cup qualifier between Georgia and Russia.

Condemnation was swift in all levels of football, notably with Poland announcing it would boycott its World Cup qualifier against Russia next month, and Sweden following suit in the event it plays Russia in a subsequent fixture.

“Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening,” star Polish striker Robert Lewandowski said in response to Poland’s actions.

Solidarity: Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and Everton’s Vitaliy Mykolenko embrace before their Premier League match on Saturday. Credit: AP

“It is the right decision! I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues.”

Meanwhile, Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was forced to hand over his control of Premier League club Chelsea. He retains ownership of the club, however, leading many to view the move as a pragmatic attempt to avoid being ensnared by British government moves to seize the assets of Russian billionaires.

“During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities,” Abramovich said in a statement issued by Chelsea on Saturday.

“I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.”

Across the sporting world athletes condemned Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion, with some high profile Russians joining the call for peace.

The most poignant of these moments was a pre-game embrace between Ukrainian footballers from opposing Premier League teams. Everton and Manchester City both showed their support for the European nation of 32 million people with the blue and yellow flag draped over their shoulders or emblazoned across their torsos.

City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko wiped away tears during the build up, then met Ukraine team mate and Everton player Vitaliy Mykolenko on the pitch for a quiet moment of solidarity.

In tennis, Russia’s world number seven Andrey Rublev, who beat Jiri Vesely in straight sets to win the Dubai Tennis Championships, scrawled “No war please” across the broadcast camera lens after his semi-final victory.

After the match Rublev said: “In these moments you realise that my match is not important. It’s not about my match [or] how it affects me because what’s happening is much more terrible. You realise how important it is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what and to be united. We should take care of our Earth and of each other.”

In an intriguing move, Russian ice hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin, who plays for Washington in the NHL and is a notable Putin supporter, also spoke out against the invasion.

“Please, no more war,” Ovechkin said. “It doesn’t matter who is in the war, Russia, Ukraine, different countries. I think we live in a world that we have to live in peace.”

The 12-time NHL All-Star, who has played in the North American competition since 2005, has been a long-time Putin supporter, receiving a tea set from the Russian leader as a wedding gift and regularly appearing in photographs with him.

Ovechkin also launched “Putin Team” in the US in 2017, a self-described “social movement” to support Putin from abroad.