MADRID, 4 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Franco, assured this Friday that the veto of Russian and Belarusian athletes at the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games does not seem “unfair”, because sport defends “freedom”. and solidarity” and “cannot remain impassive in the face of injustice” caused by “Russia’s unprecedented aggression against Ukraine”.
“I don’t see it as unfair. If the world of sport defends values, a fundamental value is freedom and solidarity, everything that is done to combat what happens there seems fine to me,” Franco said about the conflict in Ukraine after the inauguration of the activities on the occasion of Women’s Week.
Thus, he defended that the world of sport “has to give a clear, sharp and forceful message to Putin.” “Sport cannot remain unmoved in the face of this injustice, this unprecedented aggression by Russia against Ukraine,” he argued.
“Women and children are the ones who suffer the most. We are waiting for a common position from the members of the EU. My personal opinion is that no Spanish athlete should be allowed to compete in Russia. The position of Foreign Affairs is harsh In the next few hours we will have a position of the entire EU, until this takes place, the position of Spain will be tough against what is happening in Ukraine,” he added.
On the situation of Spanish athletes in Ukraine, Franco announced that at this time no one was in contact with the CSD. “We have already helped some Spanish athletes to leave Ukraine, in coordination with Foreign Affairs. And we are thinking of measures for the future to make life easier for Ukrainian athletes. Spain cannot act alone, but we will help as much as we can”, confirmed.