“I don’t think that they should continue playing for their country,” Elina Svitolina opposes IOC’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics 

Svitolina has been pretty vocal about not allowing Russian and Belarusian players on the tour.

“I don’t think that they should continue playing for their country,” Elina Svitolina opposes IOC’s decision to allow Russian and Belarusian players to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics 

Elina Svitolina (Image via CNN)

Ukrainian tennis ace Elina Svitolina cannot wrap her head around how Russian and Belarusian players are being allowed to continue playing the sport despite their country continuing to trouble Ukraine. 

Svitolina, who has been pretty vocal in her stand against Russia ever since it invaded Ukraine, has also questioned the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to allow the players from these two countries to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

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The 29-year-old Ukrainian who has now made peace with the fact that Russian and Belarusian players will continue to play on the ATP and WTA tour as neutral athletes, believes that players from Russia and Belarus should not be allowed to participate in a global event like the Olympics.

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My position still stays the same, that I don’t think that they should continue playing for their country. 
Elina Svitolina said to CNN when asked about her opinion on IOC’s decision.

Elina Svitolina happy to see Ukraine getting back on its feet

Svitloina has not been just critical of the decisions made by sporting authorities in favor of Russian and Belarusian players but she has also worked hard to help her country’s people get back on their feet and now as it is happening, she cannot be more proud.

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Elina Svitolina (Image via CNN)

Svitolina has taken the matter of raising funds for the war-affected people into her own hands. She is an ambassador for UNITED24, Ukraine’s official fundraising platform launched by President Volodymyr Zelensky, and is focused on a program that seeks to rebuild infrastructure damaged during the conflict.

The 29-year-old tennis star is working hard to raise funds. Also, Svitolina is taking care of her family in Ukraine. Amid all the chaos, she also looks at the positive side of the war. The player says that she is surprised after seeing the spirit of the people helping each other. 

I’m just very surprised and proud of the spirit that all Ukrainians have been showing in these difficult times. On a daily basis, they are facing missiles, they are facing a lot of scary moments … and they are continuing to work there, continuing to help each other.
Elina Svitloina said.

Notably, Ukraine is slowly and steadily recovering from all the losses incurred in the attacks from Russia. The official fundraising platform has been of big help as it is being used to restore the destroyed public properties and Elina Svitloina is happy about that.

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