Ukrainian figure skaters Artem Darensky and Sofia Golichenko, performing in pair skating, chose to speak Russian at the Beijing Olympics, despite the ban of the Ministry of Sports of Ukraine. Their words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
Athletes noted that they themselves decide in what language to communicate at the Olympics. “We can speak both Ukrainian and Russian and English. It’s just that it’s really hard for us to speak Ukrainian, and in order for people to understand us more, we speak Russian,” said Darensky.
On January 21, the Ministry of Sports of Ukraine advised the athletes to refuse interviews in Russian. Also, athletes from Ukraine were forbidden to pose for joint photos with the Russians.
The scandal was provoked by a joint photo of the Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslav Maguchy with the Russian Maria Lasitskene at the Summer Games in Tokyo: Lasitskene became the Olympic champion, and Maguchy became the bronze medalist of Tokyo 2020. At home, the Ukrainian was criticized and was summoned to a conversation with the Ministry of Defense.
The Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be held from February 4 to 20.
Source: Lenta
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
