IFSC Suspends All Russian Competition, Athletes and Officials
Russian Professional Climber Vadim Timinov and Ukrainian World Cup climber Jenya Kazbekova speak out against Russian invasion
Photo by: Jan Virt of Nika Potopova
On March 2, 2022 the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) announced that they would fall in line with the recommendations issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the implications of the war in Ukraine. This includes the suspension of all IFSC competitions scheduled to take place in Russia as well as a ban on athletes and officials from Russia and Belarus. Furthermore, Russian pro-climber Vadim Timinov and Ukrainian World Cup climber Jenya Kazbekova publicly criticized Russia.
The IFSC Announces Russia’s Suspension, and more
As the war in Ukraine enters its second week, the IFSC has decided to suspend all IFSC competitions scheduled for Russia and Belarus including the Boulder and Speed World Cup Series openers scheduled for April 1 in Moscow. This decision was discussed last week, but has developed and gone so far as to suspend both the IFSC Youth European Cup in Kaliningrad, Russia and the 2023 IFSC Youth World Championships until further notice.
This effort comes as a part of the world’s response to end the conflict in Ukraine. The IFSC has further decided to suspend all Russian and Belarusian athletes and team officials from IFSC competitions and to nominate replacements for all the Russian and Belarusian IFSC officials appointed to competitions in 2022.
These measures were unanimously supported by the IFSC Executive Board. The IFSC aims to help Ukraine and will discuss further measures to aid Ukrainians in the upcoming General Assembly set to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 18 and 19, 2022. The potential actions they will discuss include but are not limited to waiving the 2022 annual fee for the Ukrainian Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UMF) and the 2022 Registration fee for all IFSC events. The IFSC also mentioned creating a support program to assist the Ukrainian Climbing community at this time, but it is yet unclear how they plan to do that.
Russian Professional Climber Speaks Out Against Russia
This information comes on the heels of an Instagram post from Russian professional climber Vadim Timinov. Timinov said the following:
When I see what is happening in Ukraine, my heart bleeds. Relatives, friends and acquaintances spread such things that I am really afraid to imagine myself in their place. We don’t need war! We want peace! What is happening now is unacceptable in the 21st century! How to fight? – I don’t know, I can’t even imagine. And I understand that this post will not save the situation.
Yesterday, for the first time, I was at a rally against the war in the center of St. Petersburg. For any phrase like ‘no war’, 20 riot police in full ammunition and batons run per person, stuff him into a paddy wagon and send him to jail for an indefinite time.
People are afraid to go out, afraid to express their opinion! Therefore, I appeal to athletes, to climbers: Guys, do not be silent! Do not be afraid! If this does not change the situation, then at least it will save your honor and reputation. The whole world thinks that you agree with what is happening now. I know it’s not!
We want to participate in competitions and travel in the future, we want to be friends and are not ashamed of our nationality when we find ourselves outside our country! Climbing is a sport that exists in a close circle of friends and like-minded people. We travel together, make friends, and support each other. Peace!
Ukrainian World Cup Climber Appeals To Followers
Ukrainian World Cup climber Jenya Kazbekova also posted early this morning. Kazbekova said the following: My country has been at war for 8 years. Ukraine has been trying to liberate eastern Ukraine from Putin’s troops for the past 8 years.
We have a very strong nation in our country who speak two languages. In our country, they respect and accept freedom of speech and freedom of action. In our country, when Yanukovych tried to push through new laws to start depriving us of our freedom, 500,000 people came out to Maidan. And it is in our country where thousands of Russians are now dying every day on the orders of one imbecile. It is in our country where a full-scale war began. Cities are being destroyed, civilians and our military are being killed. The propaganda under which the Russian people have lived and still live now has incredible power. People support Putin, his actions and the war in Ukraine! We do not need to be rescued, in Ukraine nobody needs the Putin regime and a huge concentration camp!
We have an independent and beautiful country, and the only thing that is in the way for us are the f****** Russian troops who are trying to capture us. I never thought that it would come to this in the 21st century. I never thought that I would have to flee my home because of the bombing. I never thought that I would wake up every day and pray that all my loved ones and relatives were still alive!
I have no right to tell someone what to do… (Fortunately there are no people in my environment who openly support the war or Putin), however, my dear friends from Russia\, and I have a lot of them, don’t be silent, please! Tell everyone about what is really happening in Ukraine! Show non-Russian sources of information, try to help your population to turn on critical thinking and common sense. Stop propaganda! At least in your realm of influence… It depends on. all of us what kind of world we live in. But while Ukraine is trying to repulse Putler’s attack, you must not ignore all this.
I am proud of my country, I am proud of the Ukrainian people, I am proud of our army, without which Ukraine would not exist anymore! “Russian warship – go f*** yourself!” We will stand because Ukraine will never give up its freedom!
Featured image of Nika Potopova by Jan Virt
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