Olympics president leads sporting world's condemnation of Russia

The International Olympic Committee has blasted Vladimir Putin for breaking the 'Olympic Truce' after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, sea and air on Thursday - sparking massive ramifications around the sporting world.

IOC president Thomas Bach said the Russian government had breached the Olympic Truce currently in effect until after next month's Winter Paralympic Games.

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The IOC pointed out that all 193 UN member states had agreed last December to a global truce beginning seven days before the start of the Olympic Games in Beijing and ending seven days after the closing of the Paralympic Games on March 13.

"Today, IOC President Thomas Bach reiterates his call for peace, which he expressed in his speeches at the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games," the IOC said.

The IOC also said that "following recent events," it was "deeply concerned about the safety of the Olympic Community in Ukraine."

The organisation has "established a task force to closely monitor the situation and to coordinate humanitarian assistance to members of the Olympic Community in Ukraine where possible."

Russia set to lose hosting rights for Champions League final

Meanwhile, Russia is set to lose hosting rights for the prestigious Champions League final, while Formula One and tennis have also taken action.

The Champions League final is scheduled to be held in St Petersburg in May, but European football's governing body UEFA is set to move the match to another venue.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has called an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee on Friday when the issue will be discussed.

The showcase game in European club football was set to be held at Zenit St Petersburg's stadium - known as the Gazprom Arena after a sponsorship deal with Russia's state energy company, which also sponsors the Champions League.

A joint statement from the football associations of Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic have also called for next month's World Cup playoffs in Russia to be played elsewhere.

"The signatories to this appeal do not consider travelling to Russia and playing football matches there," the statement said.

Formula One and tennis reacts to Russian invasion

The governing body of men's tennis says next week's ATP Challenger event in Moscow will not take place as scheduled due to concerns over player safety and uncertainty related to international travel.

"The security of players will remain our top priority in assessing the scheduling of subsequent ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour events in the region," the ATP said in a statement.

"We continue to monitor the situation."

Ukrainian star Elina Monfils (nee Svitolina) posted on Twitter on Thursday, writing "I can't" alongside a number of crying a broken heart emojis.

Four-times F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel said he will not take part in September's grand prix in Sochi, adding it was "wrong" to race in Russia.

"My own opinion is I should not go," Vettel said.

"I'm sorry for the innocent people that are losing their lives, that are getting killed for stupid reasons and a very, very strange and mad leadership."

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen said he agreed with Vettel.

US-owned Formula One team Haas have also revealed they will remove Russian potash producer Uralkali's branding from its car and run it in an all-white livery on the final day of testing in Barcelona.

Haas have run their cars in a Russian flag livery with Uralkali stickers since last season as part of a title sponsorship deal, which has secured funding for the team and seen company owner and billionaire Dmitry Mazepin's son Nikita signed to a race seat.

The team said the 22-year-old Russian, who races alongside Mick Schumacher, will take part in the morning session as planned in Barcelona but said "at this moment" no further comment regarding team partner agreements would be made.

And World Athletics has also condemned the Russian invasion, saying president Sebastian Coe had contacted senior vice-president Sergey Bubka and the Ukrainian Athletics Federation to offer support.

"We continue to monitor the situation carefully, but there is no reason to believe this will affect plans for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships Muscat 22 or the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22," World Athletics said.

with agencies

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