The championships are the latest major sporting event to be taken away from Russia since Russian president Vladimir Putin launched the invasion last Thursday.
Follow Us
The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) on Tuesday Announced that the 2022 World Championship has been moved from Russia due to the country’s military invasion of Ukraine. Russia was scheduled to host the world championships from August 26-September 11, with group matches held across several cities and the final round of games in Moscow. The championships are the latest major sporting event to be taken away from Russia since Russian president Vladimir Putin launched the invasion last Thursday.
Also read: Atalanta vs Sampdoria: Koopmeiners nets double as Atalanta win 4-0
FIVB Statement on the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2022.
➡️ https://t.co/MH0ktaTXN4 pic.twitter.com/qrbkdLCKXh
— Volleyball World (@volleyballworld) March 1, 2022
“Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, the FIVB remains gravely concerned by the escalating situation and for the safety of the people of Ukraine,” the World Volleyball body’s statement read.
“The FIVB Board of Administration has come to the conclusion that it would be impossible to prepare and stage the World Championships in Russia due to the war in Ukraine.
“The Russian Volleyball Federation and the Organising Committee Volleyball 2022 have been informed accordingly.
“The FIVB will seek an alternative host nation(s) to ensure that the global Volleyball Family, including the National Federations, athletes, officials and fans all feel safe and proud to participate in a joyous and peaceful festival of sport,” FIVB added.
The federation’s decision follows European football’s governing body UEFA’s decision last Friday to move the Champions League final on May 28 from Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg to the Stade de France in Paris. Formula One on Friday also cancelled the Russian Grand Prix scheduled for September 25.
A statement from UEFA said: “The UEFA executive committee decided to relocate the final of the 2021-22 UEFA Men’s Champions League from St Petersburg to Stade de France in St Denis. The game will be played as initially scheduled on Saturday May 28 at 2100 CET.
Moving the match to France is particularly notable after the geopolitical events of recent days, in which Macron’s attempts to arrange a political summit with Joe Biden and Russian president Vladimir Putin were swiftly bypassed as troops invaded Ukraine.
