Tweet
Wimbledon Considering Requirement that Russian Players Renounce Putin
Oh, boy. Used to watch tennis to get away from current affairs and politics.
Heard this earlier and assumed it would blow away. Sounds reminiscent of America's House UnAmerican Activities Committee "Have you now or have you ever been ... ?"
I don't know what party the sports minister is with, and how that affects the likelihood of this happening. Excerpts:
The Telegraph: "Wimbledon ready to ban Daniil Medvedev over fears Russian win could boost Vladimir Putin's regime
"The All England Club have been advised their independent status means that they could exert a ban on Russian and Belarussian playersfailing to denounce Putin and not face any legal repercussions. It sets the London grand slam apart from the main tennis tours, who have stayed largely neutral over fears they could be taken to court.
"Huddleston has already suggested that players such as Medvedev or world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka, who is Belarussian, should only be allowed to participate in major sporting events in the UK if they sign an anti-Putin form.
"As Huddleston said last week: “We wish to get assurance in a written declaration that they are not receiving money from Putin, Russia or Belarus [and] that they will not be making supportive comments of Putin, Russia or Belarus.”
"Such declarations, in practice, would surely be too dangerous for any Russian players to make – unless they have no family still living in the country. So there is a realistic prospect of Wimbledon going ahead without Russian participation this summer.
Heard this earlier and assumed it would blow away. Sounds reminiscent of America's House UnAmerican Activities Committee "Have you now or have you ever been ... ?"
I don't know what party the sports minister is with, and how that affects the likelihood of this happening. Excerpts:
The Telegraph: "Wimbledon ready to ban Daniil Medvedev over fears Russian win could boost Vladimir Putin's regime
"The All England Club have been advised their independent status means that they could exert a ban on Russian and Belarussian playersfailing to denounce Putin and not face any legal repercussions. It sets the London grand slam apart from the main tennis tours, who have stayed largely neutral over fears they could be taken to court.
"Huddleston has already suggested that players such as Medvedev or world No 5 Aryna Sabalenka, who is Belarussian, should only be allowed to participate in major sporting events in the UK if they sign an anti-Putin form.
"As Huddleston said last week: “We wish to get assurance in a written declaration that they are not receiving money from Putin, Russia or Belarus [and] that they will not be making supportive comments of Putin, Russia or Belarus.”
"Such declarations, in practice, would surely be too dangerous for any Russian players to make – unless they have no family still living in the country. So there is a realistic prospect of Wimbledon going ahead without Russian participation this summer.
Comment