Ok. I'm a little late in this discussion. So much changed in my life after the invasion and my focus is on so different things which are far from what they've been before... 114 days ago I had the job I loved ...working with kids at our pool school and I was happy to see their smiles. After 24th of February everything changed. Most of the kids had to leave their homes together with their families. Some were in real danger but thanks to God now in safe. Many had to leave the country and waiting for coming back to their homes. My colleague Victoria also had to leave the country. When it comes to tournaments... while there is a war going and we live under martial law...there is main priority - everything for our forces to resist the invasion...everything for the victory.
So while they kill our kids, women, men ...committing so many war crimes ... destroy and level with the ground some of our cities...well at the same time most of the russians at their country don't feel the war. The propaganda is working. They called it special operation so to free my country. Obviously the majority support so called operation. What I see...they have their national tournaments going. For example at the moment there is so called "World championship in Free piramid" going organized by the organization which was out of billiard family. What a joke...
The truth is most russian athletes, coaches were silent, did not have any courage to show their opinion while their federation used them and addressed the letter on behalf of them.
As usual somebody else is guilty and responsible but not them. Nothing new...
I'm old enough to remember the life in Soviet union and after watching a few minutes of the parade on the 9th of May ... well instead of listening to propaganda they would better read "1984" by J.Oruell ... freedom is slavery, the war is peace, the ignorance is power...lol
Honestly after all this genocide of our people I don't care about them. Would some of them show their position against and do some actions my opinion could change when it comes to some but...
I had some experience with them in the past, attended some tournaments, training camps so on, had sympathies to some players...well it's all in the past. I can live without it.
What I really care and missing that's my lessons with the kids...waiting for the peace and the time we are able to resume training and of course waiting for some hugs.
NOW I guess it is important to show how all the story began.
There was a letter from the president of russian federation of billiard sports on the 15th of March and here it is translated to English by my mentor Jorgen Sandman.
I'll better show Jorgen's post from his FB page after he saw my post a few days earlier...
"That it is important to separate sports and politics is very often stated, even though it sometimes is very difficult, if not to say impossible. Based upon the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the IOC a few weeks ago decided to first ban all international sports events in Russia and Belarus, and then to also recommend all international sports federations to ban participation of Russian and Belarussian athletes at international events outside of the two countries.
This recommendation has since been accepted by most international sports federations, if not all, and so also the World Confederation of Billiards Sports together with its member federations for Carom, Pool and Snooker. In turn Russian and Belarussian athletes are for the time being not any longer allowed to participate at continental and world championships, as well as at other international events.
That athletes cannot be blamed for the politics that governs a country, is certainly true in most cases. It is also true that athletes very often receive benefits that other compatriots do not, again often based upon politics. Irrespective of who is who and who is responsible for what, Russian and Belarussian athletes currently are not able to pursue their careers. However, so also not the Ukrainian athletes. Not because they are banned but because their focus has shifted. Instead of preparing for the next sporting event they are now fighting for their freedom and their own lives and the lives of their families.
Five days ago, Sergii, a former student of mine at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine, made me aware of a letter that the President and the First Vice President of the Russian Billiards Sports Federation have published and addressed to Putin. So did also Viktoria yesterday, another student of mine from the same university. Both have participated at national and international events as athletes, but more importantly they are acting as coaches and teachers for all athletes that represent Ukraine at international events in recent years.
As far as I have been able to see, mentioned letter so far has only been published in Russian language. I therefore feel that it is about time that a translation of the letter in English will be posted:
“To the President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin
Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich!
The Russian Billiard Sports Federation, athletes, coaches and judges, being part of the Russian sports community, feel the need to declare support for your actions as the head of state and the army in this difficult time of total lies and information chaos.
We are closely following the course of the special operation to protect the Russian-speaking population in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. What is happening in Ukraine resonates with pain in the heart of literally every Russian, because we are fraternal peoples and have close family, friendly and professional ties.
The Federation of Billiard Sports of Russia as a public organization today sees its mission not only in the development of intellectual sports, but also in the transmission of its inherent ideas of cold-blooded restraint, making informed decisions, the correct response to manipulation attempts by openly hostile forces.
We urge you not to retreat from the position of defending Russia's interests in the international arena and to complete the operation to establish peace in Ukraine.
P.N. Zavalny, President of the Russian Billiard Sports Federation
Ya.L. Firsov, First Vice President - Executive Director”
Separating sports from politics may be the concern of many. It is obvious that not all are guided by the same sentiment!"