Oleg PRIKHODKO: “Condemnation of athletes only fuels the conflict more”

Ukraine’s second racquet in doubles Oleg Prikhodko He talked about his reasons for playing with a tennis player from Russia in April-May last year.

“I played a couple with a Russian because he is my friend. And I played a couple with my friend – nationality does not matter to me. I think a person should be judged not by their nationality but by their actions.

Unfortunately, our federation uses the experience of dissidents during the Soviet era, when people were condemned for disagreeing with public opinion. I have many friends from Russia and Belarus, also my girlfriend is from Russia. They all help me in every possible way and always speak out against the war. Therefore, I don’t think I’ve made some kind of terrible move.

Any advice from FTU not to play with the Russians? Yes they did, but since I have my own views, I did what I saw fit, not blindly following the party’s policy. In general, I believe that such condemnation of athletes only fuels conflict more. Thus, athletes begin to organize war on and off the field, turn into war vehicles and forget the basic principle of sports.”