“Oleksandra published an emotional appeal in the newspaper, urging everyone to open their eyes”, — write: sport.ua
“You know what hurts the most? When you try to say: “this person supports the war” – and everyone just ignores it. This is what happened.
The tournament organized a tour of the center of Quito for the players – and I am grateful for that, the city is really beautiful. But the global problem remains: Russians are still allowed to participate in tournaments. I personally cannot change it, but I strongly believe that they should not be allowed to compete in sports during wartime.
During the excursion, in addition to me and other players, there was one Russian woman. I said in advance that I would not take pictures with her. When I refused to join the general photo, and someone asked “why?”, I answered directly: “I don’t take photos with Russian fascists.”
Did someone ask what I meant? Has anyone shown support? No. Everyone pretended that I didn’t say anything at all.
Now I want to ask my colleagues: Would you take a picture with a person who supported Hitler while pretending that everything was fine? Mass murders are a tragedy only when they do not concern Ukrainians?
And to colleagues from Europe: if it weren’t for the Ukrainians who are fighting today, the war would already be in your own countries, and Russian soldiers would be destroying your cities.
I do not blame you – but how else can I explain that these people support and finance the murder, torture and rape of civilians of Ukraine? And how do you not understand that they would be just as happy to occupy your countries if they had the chance – just as they are now celebrating the aggression against Ukraine.
But there is simply no worse feeling than seeing tragedies every day that have a clear cause – Russian-backed aggression (including Russian athletes) – and trying to communicate it somehow, while everyone pretends that you didn’t say anything. I hope you never have to go through this.”
Oliynikova reached the second round in Quito, where she was defeated by Polona Herzog in three sets.
