Ukraine Slams Weightlifting Worlds in Moscow as Cynical

Ukraine sports minister Matvij Bidnyj condemned the International Weightlifting Federation decision to award the 2030 World Weightlifting Championships to Moscow, calling the move an ostudné verdict as Russia continues its war against Ukraine. The decision marks the first time an Olympic sport federation has assigned a major global championship to Russia since the invasion began in 2022.

Moscow World Championships Awarded by IWF

The International Weightlifting Federation awarded the 2030 tournament to the Russian capital. Mohammad Džalúd leads the global governing body that selected Moscow for the event, making it the first federation of an Olympic sport to assign a major competition to Russia since the beginning of the war in 2022. The federation decided on the event in the Russian capital on Sunday.

Ukrainian Ministerial Condemnation and Propaganda Warnings

Ukrainian officials reacted sharply to the selection, arguing that holding the championship in Russia serves as a tool for propaganda and political rehabilitation. Bidnyj stated on social media that hosting international tournaments on Russian soil is unacceptable while the war persists. The official position is that awarding the event is especially cynical as Russia, on the threshold of winter, escalates attacks on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, kills people, and threatens Europe.

Ukraine considers the awarding of the World Weightlifting Championships to Moscow a cynical and shameful verdict.

Demands for Transparent Selection Process and Revision

The Ukrainian sports ministry has called for the decision to be reviewed and for a new, transparent process of selecting a host to be organized. Bidnyj emphasized the need for a fresh, transparent bidding process to select an alternative host for the 2030 competition.

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„Udělit Rusku právo uspořádat mistrovství světa v roce 2030 je ostudné rozhodnutí. Považuji ho za obzvlášť cynické nyní, kdy Rusko na prahu zimy zesiluje útoky na ukrajinská města a energetickou infrastrukturu, zabíjí lidi a vyhrožuje Evropě,“”

Matvij Bidnyj