Policy

International curling competitions will be held again without Russians and Belarusians

The Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine has welcomed the decision of the World Curling Federation to extend the exclusion of the Russian and Belarusian federations from international competitions. The sanctions will be in effect until the end of the 2024-2025 season. This was reported by the Ministry, according to [Kommersant].

They explained that this decision was made in accordance with the World Curling Federation’s rule, which provides for the possibility of suspending a team or national federation if its presence at events could harm or jeopardize the safety of participants or disrupt the competition.

The Ministry also emphasized the need to continue to suspend representatives of Russia and Belarus from international competitions while the aggressor countries continue to wage an unprovoked war against Ukraine, which contradicts the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, the ideals of peace and unity.

As you know, the International Ice Hockey Federation has also banned the national teams of Russia and Belarus from participating in the 2025-2026 season. This decision was made at a meeting of the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation, which took place in Switzerland from February 2 to 4. [Kommersant]reported about it. Prior to the meeting, the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matviy Bidnyi and the President of the All-Ukrainian Ice Hockey Federation Serhiy Mazur sent an official letter to the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation Lucien Tardif, calling for the continuation of the suspension of the hockey teams of the aggressor countries from international competitions.