“This is extremely unfair and unjust, both to the athletes and the fans. But all of us know exactly who we are cheering for – even without flags.” Ilia Averbukh on the recent ban preventing the display of Russian flag at the Olympic qualifier

Ilia Averbukh calls on Russian skaters to respond to flag ban with results

original source: Sport24

Ilia Averbukh expressed his thoughts on the recent ban preventing the display of Russian and Belarusian flags (modern or historical) at venues or areas under the control of organizers for the 2026 Winter Olympics qualifying events in Beijing. Here’s a translation of his comments.

“This is extremely unfair and unjust, both to the athletes and the fans. However, we see similar situations unfolding in other sports as well. I firmly believe that we can overcome this system with our exceptional results,” Averbukh told TASS.

He encouraged fans and the skating community to stand firmly behind the athletes, saying, “All of us know exactly who we are cheering for – even without flags. We need to fully support our athletes. Once again, I must emphasize how unjust this situation is. But as we’ve always been taught in sports – when challenges get tougher, we grow stronger.”

Related topics: Ilia Averbukh, Olympic Games