AS THE WORLD OF SPORT SHUNS RUSSIA, AND CONDEMNS THE INVASION OF UKRAINE, GOLF HAS REMAINED STONE COLD SILENT
BY MATT HOOPER
BY MATT HOOPER
1 MARCH, 2022 - THE RUSSIAN INVASION HAS AND CONTINUES TO PROVOKE OUTRAGE ACROSS THE WORLD, AND THE SPORTS COMMUNITY HAS MADE PUBLIC STATEMENTS OF CONDEMNATION AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, PLACED SIGNIFICANT SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA AND BELARUS, AND CUT TIES WITH INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES BASED IN RUSSIA. REFUGEES ARE POURING INTO THE REST OF EUROPE BY THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, AND PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN HAS PUT HIS NUCLEAR FORCES ON HIGH ALERT, EFFECTIVELY THREATENING THE WEST WITH A NUCLEAR WAR.
UEFA WERE THE FIRST TO ACT, STRIPPING ST PETERSBURG OF THE HOSTING OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL, AND MOVING THE GAME TO PARIS, AND THE GOVERNING BODY OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL WAS FOLLOWED SWIFTLY BY FORMULA 1, WHO CANCELLED THIS YEAR'S RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX. THE FIS ALSO ACTED SWIFTLY TO REMOVE UPCOMING WORLD CUP SKIING EVENTS FROM THE COUNTRY, AND MANCHESTER UNITED ENDED A SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH AEROFLOT.
THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED ALL SPORTS SUSPEND RUSSIA AND BELARUS FROM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, AND FIFA QUICKLY FOLLOWED IN BANNING ALL RUSSIAN TEAMS FROM ALL LEVELS OF MEN'S AND WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL. UEFA HAS EXPELLED SPARTAK MOSCOW FROM THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE AND SUSPENDED RUSSIAN CLUBS FROM ALL CLUB COMPETITIONS, AND THE SWISS-BASED BODY HAS ALSO ENDED ITS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH GAZPROM.
OTHER SPORTS HAVE ACTED IN SUSPENDING RUSSIANS AND CANCELLING UPCOMING COMPETITIONS, AND MUCH OF THE WORLD OF SPORT HAS ISSUED STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THE INVASION:
FIFA: First and foremost, FIFA would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Violence is never a solution and FIFA expresses its deepest solidarity to all people affected by what is happening in Ukraine.
UEFA: UEFA shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine.
WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF: The World of Boxing United for Immediate Peace, The four boxing governing organizations in the world join together to express their position with regards to the tragic war which is taking place as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Just as the world claims for cease of fire, our organizations have decided to not sanction any boxing championships in Russia. Just as this war has put a stop of boxing in Ukraine, our organizations will not sanction fights in Russia until further assessment of the situation. May God bless everyone and bring peace to our world.
IOC: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) strongly condemns the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government. The respective UN resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 December 2021 by consensus of all 193 UN Member States. The Olympic Truce began seven days before the start of the Olympic Games, on 4 February 2022, and ends seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games.
Today, IOC President Thomas Bach reiterates his call for peace, which he expressed in his speeches at the Opening Ceremony and the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games. At the Opening Ceremony, he called on the political authorities: “Observe your commitment to this Olympic Truce. Give peace a chance.” At the Closing Ceremony, he asked the political leaders “to be inspired” by the “example of solidarity and peace” set by the Olympic athletes. Following recent events, the IOC is deeply concerned about the safety of the Olympic Community in Ukraine. It has established a task force to closely monitor the situation and to coordinate humanitarian assistance to members of the Olympic Community in Ukraine where possible.
FIS: The Council expressed its deepest and sincerest hope that the conflict in Ukraine will come to an end quickly and that the international sports community can begin the process of healing and once again compete with all athletes and nations present.
FORMULA 1: The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together. We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation. On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.
ATP TOUR AND WTA TOUR: Joint Statement by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis: deep sense of distress, shock and sadness has been felt across the entire tennis community following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the past week. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and we commend the many tennis players who have spoken out and taken action against this unacceptable act of aggression. We echo their calls for the violence to end and peace to return.
BUT THE SPORT WHICH REPRESENTS EUROPE IN THE MOST UNIQUE WAY OF ALL HAS SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
YES, I KNOW GOLF DOES NOT HAVE ANY EVENTS IN RUSSIA OR UKRAINE, IT DID HAVE THE RUSSIAN OPEN UNTIL 2015, AND THE SPORT DOES NOT HAVE ANY RUSSIANS OR UKRAINIANS PLAYING AT THE TOP LEVEL, HOWEVER, THE 12 MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM PROFESS TO REPRESENT OUR CONTINENT. NONE OF THEM HAVE SEEN FIT TO MAKE A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH GOVERN THIS SPORT HAVE NOT MADE A SINGLE STATEMENT REGARDING THE INVASION.
WHY?
THERE ARE UKRAINIANS WHO PLAY GOLF, UKRAINIANS WHO WORK IN GOLF, AND IN ANY CASE THAT IS IRRELEVANT. THE R&A, USGA, PGA TOUR, EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP AND EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION COULD HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT SIMILAR TO THE WORLD BOXING FEDERATIONS, EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE, AND CONDEMNATION OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION.
IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PRIORITIES OF THIS SPORT NOW.
HUMAN RIGHTS DON'T MATTER IN GOLF.
IT IS STILL THE ELITIST SPORT IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO, A WOLF DRESSED IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
THEY ARE PROBABLY STILL TIED UP WITH TRYING TO BAN A COMPETITOR RUN BY GREG NORMAN, YET STILL ALLOW A TOUR TO BE FUNDED BY A DICTATORSHIP IN THE DESERT. THE WORD HUMAN RIGHTS HASN'T PASSED JAY MONAHAN OR KEITH PELLEY'S LIPS IN THE SUPER GOLF LEAGUE SAGA, IT IS THE COMPETITOR THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT, AND THE LACK OF A STATEMENT WHEN THERE IS A WAR IN EUROPE PROVES IT.
THE SPORT I LOVE SO DEARLY, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME A JOB FOR MUCH OF MY ADULT LIFE IN VARIOUS ROLES, HAS DISAPPOINTED, AND HAS SHOWN THAT UNLESS THE CAUSE MATTERS TO THEM, THEY DON'T REALLY CARE.
UEFA WERE THE FIRST TO ACT, STRIPPING ST PETERSBURG OF THE HOSTING OF THE UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL, AND MOVING THE GAME TO PARIS, AND THE GOVERNING BODY OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL WAS FOLLOWED SWIFTLY BY FORMULA 1, WHO CANCELLED THIS YEAR'S RUSSIAN GRAND PRIX. THE FIS ALSO ACTED SWIFTLY TO REMOVE UPCOMING WORLD CUP SKIING EVENTS FROM THE COUNTRY, AND MANCHESTER UNITED ENDED A SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH AEROFLOT.
THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE HAS RECOMMENDED ALL SPORTS SUSPEND RUSSIA AND BELARUS FROM INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, AND FIFA QUICKLY FOLLOWED IN BANNING ALL RUSSIAN TEAMS FROM ALL LEVELS OF MEN'S AND WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL. UEFA HAS EXPELLED SPARTAK MOSCOW FROM THE UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE AND SUSPENDED RUSSIAN CLUBS FROM ALL CLUB COMPETITIONS, AND THE SWISS-BASED BODY HAS ALSO ENDED ITS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH GAZPROM.
OTHER SPORTS HAVE ACTED IN SUSPENDING RUSSIANS AND CANCELLING UPCOMING COMPETITIONS, AND MUCH OF THE WORLD OF SPORT HAS ISSUED STATEMENTS CONDEMNING THE INVASION:
FIFA: First and foremost, FIFA would like to reiterate its condemnation of the use of force by Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. Violence is never a solution and FIFA expresses its deepest solidarity to all people affected by what is happening in Ukraine.
UEFA: UEFA shares the international community’s significant concern for the security situation developing in Europe and strongly condemns the ongoing Russian military invasion in Ukraine.
WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF: The World of Boxing United for Immediate Peace, The four boxing governing organizations in the world join together to express their position with regards to the tragic war which is taking place as Russia has invaded Ukraine. Just as the world claims for cease of fire, our organizations have decided to not sanction any boxing championships in Russia. Just as this war has put a stop of boxing in Ukraine, our organizations will not sanction fights in Russia until further assessment of the situation. May God bless everyone and bring peace to our world.
IOC: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) strongly condemns the breach of the Olympic Truce by the Russian government. The respective UN resolution was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 2 December 2021 by consensus of all 193 UN Member States. The Olympic Truce began seven days before the start of the Olympic Games, on 4 February 2022, and ends seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games.
Today, IOC President Thomas Bach reiterates his call for peace, which he expressed in his speeches at the Opening Ceremony and the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games. At the Opening Ceremony, he called on the political authorities: “Observe your commitment to this Olympic Truce. Give peace a chance.” At the Closing Ceremony, he asked the political leaders “to be inspired” by the “example of solidarity and peace” set by the Olympic athletes. Following recent events, the IOC is deeply concerned about the safety of the Olympic Community in Ukraine. It has established a task force to closely monitor the situation and to coordinate humanitarian assistance to members of the Olympic Community in Ukraine where possible.
FIS: The Council expressed its deepest and sincerest hope that the conflict in Ukraine will come to an end quickly and that the international sports community can begin the process of healing and once again compete with all athletes and nations present.
As previously announced, FIS, in solidarity with the Ski Federation of Ukraine, is providing immediate financial, logistical and technical support to Ukrainian athletes and teams until they are safely able to return home.
WORLD RUGBY: World Rugby strongly condemns the use of military force in the Ukraine and stands in solidarity with all those affectedFORMULA 1: The FIA Formula 1 World Championship visits countries all over the world with a positive vision to unite people, bringing nations together. We are watching the developments in Ukraine with sadness and shock and hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to the present situation. On Thursday evening Formula 1, the FIA, and the teams discussed the position of our sport, and the conclusion is, including the view of all relevant stakeholders, that it is impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances.
ATP TOUR AND WTA TOUR: Joint Statement by the International Governing Bodies of Tennis: deep sense of distress, shock and sadness has been felt across the entire tennis community following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in the past week. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine, and we commend the many tennis players who have spoken out and taken action against this unacceptable act of aggression. We echo their calls for the violence to end and peace to return.
BUT THE SPORT WHICH REPRESENTS EUROPE IN THE MOST UNIQUE WAY OF ALL HAS SAID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
YES, I KNOW GOLF DOES NOT HAVE ANY EVENTS IN RUSSIA OR UKRAINE, IT DID HAVE THE RUSSIAN OPEN UNTIL 2015, AND THE SPORT DOES NOT HAVE ANY RUSSIANS OR UKRAINIANS PLAYING AT THE TOP LEVEL, HOWEVER, THE 12 MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN RYDER CUP TEAM PROFESS TO REPRESENT OUR CONTINENT. NONE OF THEM HAVE SEEN FIT TO MAKE A STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY AND THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH GOVERN THIS SPORT HAVE NOT MADE A SINGLE STATEMENT REGARDING THE INVASION.
WHY?
THERE ARE UKRAINIANS WHO PLAY GOLF, UKRAINIANS WHO WORK IN GOLF, AND IN ANY CASE THAT IS IRRELEVANT. THE R&A, USGA, PGA TOUR, EUROPEAN TOUR GROUP AND EUROPEAN GOLF ASSOCIATION COULD HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT SIMILAR TO THE WORLD BOXING FEDERATIONS, EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE, AND CONDEMNATION OF THE RUSSIAN INVASION.
IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE PRIORITIES OF THIS SPORT NOW.
HUMAN RIGHTS DON'T MATTER IN GOLF.
IT IS STILL THE ELITIST SPORT IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO, A WOLF DRESSED IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.
THEY ARE PROBABLY STILL TIED UP WITH TRYING TO BAN A COMPETITOR RUN BY GREG NORMAN, YET STILL ALLOW A TOUR TO BE FUNDED BY A DICTATORSHIP IN THE DESERT. THE WORD HUMAN RIGHTS HASN'T PASSED JAY MONAHAN OR KEITH PELLEY'S LIPS IN THE SUPER GOLF LEAGUE SAGA, IT IS THE COMPETITOR THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT, AND THE LACK OF A STATEMENT WHEN THERE IS A WAR IN EUROPE PROVES IT.
THE SPORT I LOVE SO DEARLY, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME A JOB FOR MUCH OF MY ADULT LIFE IN VARIOUS ROLES, HAS DISAPPOINTED, AND HAS SHOWN THAT UNLESS THE CAUSE MATTERS TO THEM, THEY DON'T REALLY CARE.
