CWSA Statement Regarding Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus Athletes, Event Officials, and Events
The tragedy ongoing in Ukraine is horrible on many levels. Our souls, hearts and minds ache from the continued human suffering. We pray for a swift end to this nightmare.
Recently many sport organizations worldwide have taken decisions to exclude Russian Federation and Belarus Republic athletes, event officials and events from participation.
Sport develops the mind, the body, the spirit and it creates personal relationships between athletes and cultures.
CWSA member athletes, event officials and event organizers from all over the world have formed close and personal relationships with each other which transcend governments and politics. The CWSA will continue to encourage these, and additional, relationships.
The Olympic Charter reminds us that:
“[t]he practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.” Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principles of Olympism, ¶ 4.
and the Charter instructs that:
“[t]he enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Olympic Charter shall be secured without discrimination of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Olympic Charter, Fundamental Principles of Olympism, ¶ 6.
The CWSA will not depart from its governing documents, its rules, and fundamental principles.
Politics and discrimination have no place in sport.
The CWSA will not exclude Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus nationals from participation simply based on nationality.
Personal relationships and dialogue are essential to solutions, and peace.
All CWSA Board members and National representatives who are Russian Federation nationals were recused from the Board’s decision of this issue.
