Ukraine Changing World Sports Rules Amid War
International sports federations are rewriting global sports rules due to Ukraine. Ukrainian athletes express political positions at global tournaments, sometimes violating sports protocols.
In an interview with Voice of America, Ukraine's first Olympic champion in figure skating, Oksana Baiul, calls on the government to allow Ukrainian athletes to participate in the 2024 Olympics and use the platform to promote Ukraine worldwide.
Oksana Baiul also shares how she learned about the war in Ukraine, whom she called first, and how she supports Ukraine now.
"I was at home here in the US, but my heart was in Ukraine at that time. My mother is buried in Dnipro. My heart was ripping out of my chest at that time. The next day, I remember sitting in the car and noticing my hands trembling because everyone started saying that Russia would take Ukraine," recalls Oksana.
"But I am by nature a fighter; I didn't believe that Ukrainians would surrender so quickly. I remember people from the Ukrainian diaspora here encouraging me," she adds.
When Oksana learned about the war, she first called her friends in Ukraine. It was four in the morning. She couldn't believe what was happening.
"What I did from my side—I reached out to the Ukrainian Federation and said: let's express a position for Ukraine, for our flag. I called practically everyone I ever had contact with in sports. I managed to contact many Ukrainian Olympians," shares the Ukrainian champion.
"Of course, we rallied together as Olympians and as people who, in their activities, also fight for their country. We rallied because we love Ukraine and wanted to help because we are part of this country. I feel that we need to wage this war as one team under the Ukrainian flag. I think that what is happening now in Ukrainian sports—federations rewriting world rules in sports—is significant," emphasizes the Olympic champion.
It is worth noting that Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan refused to shake hands with her Russian rival intentionally, knowing it would be considered a violation of sports rules and result in punishment. However, after this incident, the International Olympic Committee recognized not shaking hands during war as a norm.