Flawil, 9 July 2024
Dear Presidents, Dear General Secretaries
Dear Colleagues, Dear Friends
following the letter of the WDSF Managing Committee, dated 7th June 2024, that inform all WDSF
members about the communication WDSF received from Ms. Emilia Schiliuk, Manager of the
Director’s Office for the IOC Sports Department, Communication dated May 2024 that we enclose
in full, against the politicization of sport, that fully supports the IOC’s decision to highlight concerns
about the shadowy organization behind the summer and winter “Friendship Games” and the event
itself. The rest of the Olympic Movement supports this position too.
This letter follows a previous press release of the IOC dated 19th march 2024 “Declaration by the
IOC against the Politicisation of sport” that you also find enclosed to this mail.
The Managing Committee of the WDSF Con nental Association of Europe, fully respecting,
according to its statute, the decision of the WDSF Managing Committee, would like to remind you
that the Russian Member Body (FDSBARR) was downgraded by the WDSF Presidium on March 7,
2024, due to its ongoing failure to fulfill its WDSF membership sporting duties. At the same time
the the WDSF Presidium also issued a personal reprimand to the President of FDSBARR, Ms.
Erastova, for her persistent failure to fulfill her sporting leadership responsibilities within FDSBARR;
and in addition the WDSF Presidium completely removed all of Russian athletes in WDSF’s National
RLS Administration, by transferring that authority completely to the WDSF Presidium for the direct
administration of Russia’s few remaining International athletes.
The WDSF Presidium does not rule out further actions against the Russian Member Body should it
continue to disregard the WDSF Statutes.
In conclusion, in accordance with what expressed by WDSF President on July 5, 2024, we consider
Friendship Games, scheduled to take place in Russia this year, as a clear attempt by Russia to
politicize sport and we ask to everyone to refrain from supporting Russia’s attempt to undermine
world sport by a structure which is now seen as openly controlled from the Russian Sport ministry.
We are available to discuss any question or concerns you may have about this subject
BY ORDER OF THE MANAGING COMMITTEE OF THE WDSF CONTINENTAL ASSOCIATION OF EUROPE
Luigi Bodini
Secretary General
WDSF Continental Association of Europe
