Poland’s Sports Minister Kamil Bortniczuk told reporters on Friday that the 33 ministers were urging international organisations "to suspend their Russian and Belarusian member bodies, and to remove officials from these two countries from high-ranking international posts."
“In addition, national and international federations should consider ceasing to broadcast their events in Russia and Belarus,” Bortniczuk said.
He noted that the English football Premier League earlier this month suspended its television broadcast deal with Russia’s Match TV in response to Moscow’s attack on Ukraine, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Global initiative
The appeal has been signed by sports ministers from Poland and most other European Union countries, except Hungary and Bulgaria.
Other signatories included Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea and the United States, the PAP news agency reported.
Liechtenstein and Iceland were also expected to join the initiative later on Friday, according to Bortniczuk.
Poland takes over two int'l sports events from Russia
In March, at the request of Poland, Britain and Canada, sports ministers from some 40 countries called for Russia and Belarus to be banned from organising international sports events.
Since then Russia has been stripped of hosting the 2022 volleyball world championships. The event will instead be held in Poland and Slovenia in August and September.
Poland has also been chosen to replace Russia as the host of the men’s and women’s rugby sevens European championships.
Friday was day 128 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, Reuters