THE world hates Russia. Include Belarus, a willing stooge of Russia. Both countries are involved in trying to militarily occupy Ukraine starting Feb. 24.
Ukraine’s “sin?”
It wants to join the National Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a move opposed by Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the comedian turned politician and who got elected president in a democratically-held polls in 2019, is a resolute freedom fighter who has openly defied Putin’s expansionist orchestrations of controlling Ukraine.
Zelenskys’s predecessor, who was ousted in a people-powered revolution similar to our bloodless 1986 Edsa People’s Revolt, has sought asylum in Russia.
Politely declining offers of a similar refuge from sympathetic nations, Zelenskyy said he’d rather die fighting “in the company of my compatriots” than live far away “from my beloved Ukraine.”
Listed dead in Russia’s invasion as of this writing, according to United Nations data, are more than 1,500 Ukrainians, including scores of civilians and children.
So brutal and merciless are the Russians that one mayor in Ukraine described them as “not an army but a bunch of animals.” Sadly, that mayor was now listed by CNN as among the casualties.
Also very angry and seething with rage are practically the world’s sports officials, including taekwondo’s moguls who had stripped Putin of his black belt.
On March 3, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from participating in the Beijing Winter Paralympics starting on Friday.
It was a complete reversal from the IPC’s initial decision allowing Russia and Belarus to participate, which was met with loud boos and a threat from Ukrainian sympathizers to avoid competing against Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Effectively driven out of the Beijing event are some 71 Russians.
“An overwhelming number of members have told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences,” said IPC President Andrew Parsons.
IPC’s initial decision was termed a betrayal as it signaled agreement on Russia’s premeditated attack of Ukraine, a titanium-rich nation of 44.17 million people.
The about-face made IPC part of many sports like soccer, track & field, basketball, hockey and many more that have imposed blanket bans on Russians and Belarusians.
Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) exhorted sports bodies to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events.
Time to speak up, too—as in our sports officials declaring their staunch solidarity with Ukraine?
Unprovoked aggression deserves condemnation in the strongest terms.
THAT’S IT Like Zelenskyy, Ramon Fernandez is undaunted and is set to fly to Hanoi for the Chef de Mission (CDM) March 17 to 20 meeting to discuss matters regarding the SEA Games set May 12-23. This, despite the infection surge in Vietnam where a daily average of 160,000 cases has been recorded the past seven days. “The Games will push through as scheduled. We will be there,” Fernandez said. Fighting words from El Presidente himself.