On March 2, Beijing time, Russian figure skating legend and Russian figure skating coach Plushenko spoke out, shelling the International Skating Federation for banning Russian athletes, confusing sports and politics, and questioning the Olympic motto only on the text.
Proshenko was the figure skating men's singles champion at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and was hailed as Russia's ice prince. At present, he is the coach of the Russian national team, and the International Skating Federation issued a statement clearly saying that in response to the call of the Olympic Committee, after banning Russian and Belarusian athletes, he, as a big name in Russian figure skating, stood up against and questioned such a ban.
Proshenko said he could not remain silent, saying that FIFA, UEFA and the International Skating Union (ISU) banned the Russian national team and athletes, which is a big mistake! "You can't confuse sports with politics, you can't punish athletes and deprive them of the right to compete and compete as you are doing now," Said Pushshenko. This is discrimination and a direct and grave violation of the rights of athletes. ”
Proshenko said that Russian figure skaters have proved themselves to be the strongest in the world, and if figure skating does not have Russian athletes, then the attraction of figure skating will no longer exist, and without Russian athletes participating in international competitions, even victories will be devalued, because the real strong are left at home.
Questioning the IOC's Olympic motto "faster, higher, stronger", Proshenko said: "Are these just words?" Wanting to isolate Russia from world sport means that olympic values are a thing of the past. ”
Finally, Pushshenko said that he looked forward to peace, hoped that the negotiations would bear fruit, hoped for unity, and overcome political differences through a love of sport.