Australian Open tennis organizers have banned the flags of Russia and Belarus from the grounds on the second day of the Grand Slam tournament. The organizers responded to the protest of the Ukrainian ambassador, who complained about the Russian flag in Melbourne Park on social networks.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia and New Zealand, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, took to Twitter to draw attention to an incident on the opening day of the tournament, when a Russian flag hung on a bush near the court where Ukraine’s Kateryna Baindlov was playing against Russia’s Kamila Rachimova.
“I call on Tennis Australia to start implementing its ‘neutral flags’ policy immediately,” the ambassador wrote.
Host organization Tennis Australia announced today that the flags of Russia and Belarus will be banned from Melbourne Park with immediate effect.
“Our original position was that fans can bring them but not cause a disturbance. We had an incident here yesterday where the flag was next to the court. We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment for tennis.” Tennis Australia said.
Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine last February, tennis players of Russia and its ally Belarus have been allowed to compete in tournaments as neutral athletes without state symbols and flags. They did not receive an invitation only to Britain for the preparatory tournaments before Wimbledon and the Grand Slam tournament itself.
Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenková said after today’s victory in the 1st round over Tereza Martincová that she respects the decision of the organizers of the Australian Open.
“I think sport has nothing to do with politics, but if it makes everyone feel better like this, then OK. I’m not going to do anything about it. They just did it. No flags? Well, no flags,” said the tournament’s fifth-seeded player.
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyukova told Reuters on Monday that, just like in previous months, she will not shake hands after a match with a Russian or Belarusian opponent.
He blames them for not speaking out strongly enough against the invasion.
