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“I Was Convinced It Was Fake News”: Polish Volleyball Chief Slams FIVB's Return of Russian Teams
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Polish Volleyball Federation President Sebastian Świderski has sharply criticized the International Volleyball Federation's (FIVB) decision to allow Russian athletes to return to international competition, calling the move premature while Russia's war against Ukraine continues.
This was reported by Sport.pl on July 9.
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Speaking about the decision, Świderski said he first learned of it through social media rather than official channels.
“I probably learned about the IOC's decision from social media. We did not receive any official information. I was convinced it was fake news. I later confirmed the information through informal sources,” Świderski said.
He described the decision to readmit Russian athletes as “strange,” noting that “nothing has changed on our eastern border.”
“I invite the gentlemen who made this decision to visit Ukraine so they can see what everyday life looks like there. I wonder how they would behave if Russia attacked their own country, and whether they would make such decisions so quickly under those circumstances,” he added.
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Świderski also stressed that hosting matches involving Russian teams in Poland remains impossible because of government policy, saying Russian volleyball players would not be granted visas or permission to enter the country.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the Polish federation would likely face pressure from the FIVB if it were required to stage such a match.
In a letter to the FIVB, cited by World of Volley, Świderski reiterated the Polish federation's longstanding position against competing with Russian teams.
“Dear Mr. President, on behalf of the Polish Volleyball Federation and the volleyball community in Poland, I would like to inform you that in the light of the invasion on Ukraine, we now see no any possibility to engage in sports competition against teams from Russia and from the countries that support the Kremlin’s aggression,” the letter stated.
“Our stance is based on moral grounds, as well as on the care for the safety of Polish athletes. We cannot be silent to the face of the unprecedented aggression, of which Ukraine is the victim of today. We would also like to underline that we do not blame Russian athletes for the actions of their government, but we cannot remain indifferent to the victims of the conflict. We stand together with our Ukrainian friends,” Świderski wrote.
The comments come just a day after the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to provisionally restore the Russian Olympic Committee's status triggered strong criticism across Europe, with Estonia calling on the European Union to suspend funding for the IOC.
According to Politico on July 9, the decision clears the way for Russian athletes to compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, although they will continue to compete without the Russian flag or national anthem.
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