¬¬Volodymyr Zhyla downhill mountain biking event
DENYS SHELUDKO – PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF CYCLING OF KYIV
OLEKSANDR BASHENKO – VICE-PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF CYCLING OF UKRAINE
HOST: Annual Ukrainian Downhill Mountain biking event in Yalta is in danger. Russian Federation wants to hold it as already Russian racing. However, it is forbidden by international rules. Among other issues are problems with logistics and infrastructure in Crimea. As a result, due to the Russian schemes the race can be relocated or closed at all.
CORR: The Russian Federation has decided to annex not only the Crimea, but also Ukrainian cycling. The Eastern neighbour has already asserted its rights to the annual Yalta downhill race. In particular, submitted the application for extreme race holding in Union Cycliste Internationale, world governing body for sports cycling. Normally, it is a violation of all international agreements. However, Russians resort to cunning, contacting the cycling authorities. They intentionally choose the city with the same name.
DENYS SHELUDKO, PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF CYCLING OF KYIV
11:10 We have requested the Union Cycliste Internationale, demanding explanations: how they can agree to submit the illegal application of Russia. The thing is that there is a city with the same name in Russian Federation. Providing Yalta as a run place in the application form, they did not specify what Yalta exactly, Crimean or not, as there is also Yalta in Tula’s region of Russian Federation.
CORR: That’s why the permit of Russian Federation is actually invalid for Crimea. Only Ukraine can provide license for the race in Crimean Yalta. Other reasons for racing closing are non-compliance of present day conditions on the peninsula. Actually, it is in the international isolation: many transport connections are closed, none of European aircrafts is allowed to touch the ground there.
OLEKSANDR BASHENKO, VICE-PRESIDENT, FEDERATION OF CYCLING OF UKRAINE
13:12
The race can’t be held in Yalta. It is forbidden for planes to land in the Crimea. Also there are problems with all kinds of transport. For example, the ferry through the Kerch Strait, connecting the Crimea and Russia, has not worked for 4 days already. And it is their almost single connection. But I want to remind that only national cycling federation of Ukraine can provide permits for the sport events on the peninsula.
CORR: The problem is complicated by the fact, that Russia provides big financial support to the world cycling organizations. But even though, Union Cycliste Internationale won’t violate the international laws, believe experts. There can be some way of the situation. For example, the long negotiation process of sides. However, the simplest and the best solution is just to relocate the downhill race to Transcarpathian or Ivano-Frankivsk regions of Ukraine, as all conditions and infrastructure are available there. Volodymyr Zhyla, Yevhen Sorenko, UTR news.