Ukraine athletes warned to ignore Russian provocation at Olympics

Olha Kharlan, the Ukrainian fencer, was expelled from the world championships last year for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent.Olha Kharlan, the Ukrainian fencer, was expelled from the world championships last year for refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent.

Asked what he would tell Ukraine’s Olympic team if one of Russia’s athletes, who will compete individually as neutrals, attempted to goad a reaction on the world stage, Bidnyi called for calm. “I would tell them to react in a proper way, a dignified way,” he said. “To understand and be aware that this provocation was made on purpose. To ignore such provocations with a cold head.”

Kharlan, who under previous Covid-19 protocols would not have been punished for simply tipping blades with Anna Smirnova, looked certain to miss out on Paris 2024 after her disqualification but was handed a reprieve by the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach and will compete in August.Download the Guardian app from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for 'The Guardian'.

“We consider Russian athletes to be agents of hybrid influence,” Bidnyi explained. “We understand this is the way Russia starts war and conducts war: how it influences and manipulates thoughts. Sport is a very important part of their propaganda and I think we’ve done a lot for the world to keep them out of the international sports movement. Not even journalists can show up at the Olympics under their flag.

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