When the Arctic Winter Games International Committee gave Yamal the boot on Tuesday, I was the least-shocked sports writer in the world.
It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 if, but when John Flynn, the international committeeSA国际影视传媒檚 president, would announce that the autonomous region in Russia would be told they would be on the outside looking in. Now that itSA国际影视传媒檚 done, there are eight jurisdictions that will be in Fort McMurray, Alta., next January for the present time.
It sucks that YamalSA国际影视传媒檚 athletes wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be able to take part. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what their feelings on the invasion are because ISA国际影视传媒檓 neither there on the ground nor am I inside their heads. But we have had some comments from people on our social media feeds lamenting the fact that the younger athletes wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be playing. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 where I am on this SA国际影视传媒� let the kids play.
They canSA国际影视传媒檛 help where theySA国际影视传媒檙e from and more often than not, they have no clue about whatSA国际影视传媒檚 happening. Sure, the adults in charge can fill their heads with propaganda and ISA国际影视传媒檓 sure thatSA国际影视传媒檚 whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on. ISA国际影视传媒檝e been watching some of the newscasts from Russia and, predictably, itSA国际影视传媒檚 UkraineSA国际影视传媒檚 fault that they jumped in bed with those dastardly imperialist pigdogs from the West, according to them.
Fact is you and I and anyone else whoSA国际影视传媒檚 listening knows the score. Vladimir Putin wants to re-create the Soviet empire and what he canSA国际影视传媒檛 take through being nice, heSA国际影视传媒檒l just take through force. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 how thuggish dictators work.
ISA国际影视传媒檓 also sure that the international committee thought hard about this and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a double-edged sword. Let them play and the bullets start flying from all different directions but keep them out and youSA国际影视传媒檙e taking away opportunities. The easy decision was to go with the flow and follow what almost every other international sport organization has done: tell Russians they either arenSA国际影视传媒檛 welcome or if they are, donSA国际影视传媒檛 identify as Russian.
What we still donSA国际影视传媒檛 know is how long YamalSA国际影视传媒檚 suspension is for. Is it indefinite? Is it for good? Only the international committee knows and from what ISA国际影视传媒檝e been told, they arenSA国际影视传媒檛 saying anything about that right now. And thereSA国际影视传媒檚 the issue of what will happen to YamalSA国际影视传媒檚 planned hosting of the Games in 2026. That may be too far ahead to talk about but itSA国际影视传媒檚 on the minds of those in charge. I suppose it all depends on how long this carries on and from the looks of it, it wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be tomorrow.
I even spoke to someone who wondered whether there would be a replacement for Yamal. My response was negative simply because there would be no way for a replacement to have all of the ducks in a row in time. If it the suspension lasts into 2024, it may happen but in the short-term, no.
In the grand scheme of things, YamalSA国际影视传媒檚 suspension from the AWG program isnSA国际影视传媒檛 an earth-shattering moment in time. It wonSA国际影视传媒檛 deter Putin from rampaging through any plot of land he deems worthy of overtaking. But what it does is put yet another nail in RussiaSA国际影视传媒檚 coffin, even though sanctions and everything else hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 deterred Putin, and Yamal has become collateral damage in a way.
How long do I think the suspension will last? As long as Vladimir Putin carries on.
