Switzerland will not take part in World Cups if Russia and Belarus are present
Swiss Aquatics has released a statement that it will not send a team to the 2022 World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, Hungary if Russia and Belarus are allowed to participate.
The protest comes as Belarus supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine almost two weeks ago, an action that has killed at least 636 civilians, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Swiss Aquatics said it was “not appropriate” to send a team given the situation in Ukraine.
“After consultation with trainers and some top athletes in diving and swimming and after extensive discussion in the Central Board, Swiss Aquatics has concluded that it is currently not appropriate to send athletes from Russia or Belarus under their nationality, let alone under a neutral flag, to the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest to be cleared by FINA and to compete. “
While several countries have said they would not compete at smaller events where Russia and Belarus are present or would withdraw from meetings still scheduled to be held in Russia, Switzerland is the first federation to announce its withdrawal from the world in 2022 announces swimming championships in May in Budapest.
This meeting was a late addition to the schedule after Japan’s strict COVID-19 regulations forced Fukuoka’s original alignment to 2023.
Switzerland won two swimming medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Jeremy Desplanches took bronze in the 200 IM and Noé Ponti took bronze in the 100 Fly.
Switzerland has a history of sending swimmers, divers and artistic swimmers (synchro) to the World Championships, although most of their success has come from the swimmers.
Last week, FINA reiterated its stance on allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under neutral flags and symbols, which the President of Russia Swimming and FINA Board Member said Vladimir Salnikov called “balanced”.
Many Ukrainian athletes have been evacuated to other countries to resume training, notably Italy and Hungary.
FINA remains the largest international sports federation planning to host an event in Russia this year. While they have withdrawn the 2022 World Junior Swimming Championships from Kazan, December’s World Short Course Championships have not yet been postponed.
The Swiss government, notoriously neutral on international politics, has also spoken out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Swiss Aquatics is fully committed to safe, fair and doping-free sport. Under the current circumstances Swiss Aquatics believes that the safety and fairness of the athletes participating in the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest cannot be guaranteed if athletes from Russia or Belarus participate.”