UCCA Illinois condemns participation of Russian swimmers at world championship

The Illinois branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) condemned the participation of Russian swimmers at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships 2024, which took place on Dec. 10-15 in Budapest.

“The war is still raging and [a] terrorist state is allowed back into international competition. History has taught us nothing,” wrote UCCA Illinois.

The Russian athletes were meant to compete under a neutral flag, but they openly displayed national symbols. 

Their participation comes against the backdrop of Russia destroying sports facilities and infrastructure across Ukraine, “bombing cities to the ground, while Ukrainian children have to get basic education in bomb shelters,” UCCA-Illinois said. 

“This is outrageous and unacceptable!” the statement reads.

The involvement of Russian swimmers at the competition in the Hungarian capital sparked controversy. Lithuanian athlete Körnelija Düdaité protested by wearing a T-shirt that read “Make Russia small again,” after which she was disqualified from the event. 

“They were supposed to have a neutral status, but Hungary is a pro-Russian country, so I suspected things might be different,” said Düdaité.

In solidarity, the entire Lithuanian team of 34 athletes also decided to withdraw from the competition.