The decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to grant Moscow the right to host the World Championships in 2030 is unacceptable, stressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sibiga. Such a decision, unprecedented since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, creates the risk that the return of major international sporting events to the aggressor country will be perceived as acceptable. "Russia continues to kill Ukrainians, especially athletes. It is immoral to grant Moscow the privilege of hosting major international sporting events while its aggression continues. We must not allow the Kremlin to use international sports to gain recognition and legitimacy or to return to normal international interaction without putting an end to aggression and prosecution," the foreign minister stressed. The minister noted that we must prevent the normalization of aggression, when one institution treats the war as someone else's problem and encourages others to do so. He also called on the International Weightlifting Federation, the International Olympic Committee and the international sports community to work together to reverse this decision, because once international sport starts rewarding attackers, it loses its moral right to speak of justice, respect and integrity.

The decision of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) to grant Moscow the right to host the World Championships in 2030 is unacceptable, stressed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sibiga. Such a decision, unprecedented since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, creates the risk that the return of major international sporting events to the aggressor country will be perceived as acceptable. "Russia continues to kill Ukrainians, especially athletes. It is immoral to grant Moscow the privilege of hosting major international sporting events while its aggression continues. We must not allow the Kremlin to use international sports to gain recognition and legitimacy or to return to normal international interaction without putting an end to aggression and prosecution," the foreign minister stressed. The minister noted that we must prevent the normalization of aggression, when one institution treats the war as someone else's problem and encourages others to do so. He also called on the International Weightlifting Federation, the International Olympic Committee and the international sports community to work together to reverse this decision, because once international sport starts rewarding attackers, it loses its moral right to speak of justice, respect and integrity.