Boston Marathon Proves Its Class by Announcing It Will Be Russian-Free
Russian and Belarusian nationals banned from something, something in Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Source: AFP
Russian and Belarusian runners will not be allowed to take part in this year’s Boston Marathon because of the invasion of Ukraine, organisers said on Wednesday (Apr 6).
Russian and Belarusian athletes living in their respective countries are barred from the Apr 18 race, the Boston Athletic Association said.
However, Russian and Belarusian citizens not residing in either country would be allowed to take part, but not under the flag of either nation.
“Like so many around the world, we are horrified and outraged by what we have seen and learned from the reporting in Ukraine,” Boston Athletic Association chief executive Tom Grilk said.
“We believe that running is a global sport, and as such, we must do what we can to show our support to the people of Ukraine,” Grilk added in a statement.
The statement did not say how many Russian or Belarusian athletes had entered this year’s showpiece.
The Boston Marathon, one of the world’s major marathons, is returning to its traditional April slot this year after disruption caused by the pandemic.
The race was cancelled in 2020 and then held in October in 2021 with a smaller-than-usual field.
In 2019, the last Boston Marathon not affected by the pandemic, 59 runners in a field of more than 30,000 were from Russia and Belarus.
Russia has been increasingly isolated by the sporting world following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Football governing bodies FIFA and UEFA have suspended Russia from all international competitions, including the World Cup, while organisations such as Formula 1 have cancelled events in Russia.
People in White Russia and Russia should have better things to do than running around in Boston.
Don’t they have some army to join ? a war to fight ? or doing something remotely useful ?
Any NPC believing the Bucha BS needs to get out there on that lawn and play dead as they are already mind dead.
Ashamed of my countrymen for obviously not being able to read. RT.com is available but US citizens would rather eat McDonalds, watch football on tv, and slowly sink in a mountain of debt. We should be protesting, starting new political parties, and use passive resistance to stop any part of our war machine. Throw sand in the gears of war if you can.