We must not become holier than the Pope or fiercer than the Ukrainians themselves

She explained that Russia and Belarus use sports more as a political tool to demonstrate their sharp power.

However, the minister admitted that in this context, the issue of financial support for younger athletes is still up for discussion.

“Especially we see the last event related to the swimming competition. Young people who live in Latvia study at school in Latvia, I think they should receive funding,” said the minister.

Čakša avoided directly answering the question whether the restrictions she mentioned on receiving state funding would also mean that Latvian hockey players from the National Hockey League, in which athletes from Russia and Belarus also play, could no longer be included in the Latvian national team. “I would perhaps look at that question from a different angle,” said Čakša, noting that, in her opinion, Latvia cannot change the opinion of the big sports organizations, but it can put a lot of pressure on them, and the same can be done by the athletes themselves.

“We must not become holier than the Pope or angrier than the Ukrainians themselves. We also coordinate such decisions with the decisions taken by Ukraine, also talking to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I would say it is not cut like that with a knife, but if you ask my opinion, I believe that the pressure we can exert is to prevent such situations,” explained the politician.

The Olympic Council of Asia announced on January 26 that athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to participate in this year’s Asian Games. If the athletes of Russia and Belarus will be given the opportunity to meet the qualification criteria for the Paris Olympic Games, then, for example, in kayaking, competing in the Asian zone, they will be the winners, because there is much lower competition than in Europe.

Latvia is one of many countries opposing the International Olympic Committee’s plan to allow representatives of Russia and Belarus to participate in the Olympic Games, LETA was previously informed by the Ministry of Education and Science.