Iga Swiatek has described the policy of the International Olympic Committee regarding Russian and Belarussian athletes competing in international sport as ‘confusing’ following her latest win at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
The world No.1 has questioned why the IOC has changed their view on the topic over the past year even though the war in Ukraine is continuing. In February 2022 the IOC committee published a recommendation that players from those countries should not be allowed to play in sporting events. If they are taking part, no national symbols should be on display.
However, with the 2024 Olympic Games approaching there has been a shift in policy towards welcoming all athletes to the event regardless of the war. IOC President Thomas Bach said during a speech last month that sports and politics should be kept separate. During an hour-long talk, the German official was quoted as saying “If politics decide who can take part in a competition, then sports and athletes become tools of politics.”
“Right now the situation is pretty complicated because at the beginning of the war there weren’t many decisions one way. At first they (Russian and Belarusian athletes) were kind of banned in other sports, not in tennis,” Swiatek said following her 6-1, 6-4, win over China’s Qinwen Zheng in Stuttgart.
“Then it changed a little bit and they are starting to be allowed, which is pretty confusing because I feel nothing changed in Ukraine and the cities are still under attack.’
“Many Ukrainian athletes are fighting in the war and losing their lives. It’s heartbreaking.”
Swiatek has been one of the most vocal tennis players to speak out in support of those in Ukraine who have been affected by the war. She had previously called for the WTA to take more action on the issue and criticized Anastasia Potapova for wearing a Spartak Moscow jersey in Indian Wells. She has also participated in initiatives to raise funds for those in Ukraine.
“I just hope no matter what the decisions is going to be, the sport will be able to kind of put people together and not separate them,” she continued.
“But there are tensions, so it may be tricky and hard to do, but you know me as just one athlete, I don’t have full influence on what’s going on, so we kind of have to just compete (at) our best no matter what the circumstances are.”
In Stuttgart, Swiatek will take on 2018 champion Karolina Pliskova in the quarter-finals on Friday. She is aiming to become the first player to win the tournament for the second year in a row since Angelique Kerber in 2016.
