The International Volleyball Federation is sticking to its plans to hold events in Russia this year. Olli-Pekka Karjalainen, CEO of the Finnish Volleyball Association, is outraged by the policy.
Several international sporting events have been moved or canceled from Russia since the country launched an attack on Ukraine this week.
However, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has announced that it will not pull the World Cup away from Russia.
President of the Finnish Volleyball Association Olli-Pekka Karjalainen knocks out the idea that next fall’s World Cup would be played in Russia.
– We’re not standing behind this. We are on different lines and we intend to make it clear to the international union at the appropriate point.
According to Karjalainen, the Finnish Volleyball Association intends to follow the call of the International Olympic Committee. The IOC said on Thursday that no international sporting events should be held in Russia or Belarus.
The FIVB commented to the news agency Reuters over the weekend that preparations for volleyball and beach volleyball events in Russia are progressing as planned.
– The FIVB believes that sport must always be kept separate from politics, but the federation is following the situation closely. The safety and well-being of the participants in the events is always paramount, the association said.
Karjalainen is outraged by the FIVB line.
– The statements sound absolutely amazing to anyone who has watched the news. I’m really disappointed with this output. This is, in my view, a clearly incorrect and serious error of assessment.
– To be honest, I can’t imagine any reason why this line should be continued. It feels so amazing.
According to Karjalainen, the Finnish Volleyball Association intends to send “some kind of writing” to the FIVB.
– It is our channel of influence with a fast schedule.
Karjalainen says that Finland has not yet discussed the matter with other countries’ unions.
The World Volleyball Championships are scheduled to begin on August 26th. The venue is a total of 11 Russian cities.
Russia is not allowed to compete in the name of its own country at the World Cup. The Russian team will play under the acronym VFR. The letter combination dates back to the name of the Russian Volleyball Association.
Story edited at 4:58 PM: Karjalainen is the CEO of the Finnish Volleyball Association. Not the president, as you read earlier.