The height of cynicism: Russia invites Ukrainians to "Friendship Games"

Russia has indeed sent invitations to some Ukrainian sports federations to participate in the so-called Friendship Games in Yekaterinburg in September this year. This was announced by Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin in July last year, and now the occupiers have put it into practice with their usual cynicism.

This was stated by the acting Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matviy Bidnyi in an interview with Channel 5. According to him, Ukrainian athletes, of course, will not compete in the pseudo-competitions that the Russians intend to turn into a political show, and he also called on other countries to do the same.

"We also appealed on our part together with the National Olympic Committee. We appealed to the countries that are our partners - no one will delegate their athletes there. None of the high-level athletes will allow themselves to go there. Because such participation will be a point in their career and in their path in international sports," said Bidny.

Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) harshly criticized the Russian authorities for holding the Friendship Games. "This is a cynical attempt by the Russian Federation to politicize sport," the organization said at the time. The World Anti-Doping Agency also called for a boycott of the tournament.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Olympic speed skating champion Svitlana Zhurova demands that Ukraine withdraw from the 2024 Games in Paris.

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