Ukraine, drones, tennis

May 30, 2023, 8:24 am , by Richard Lutz

Richard Lutz sees evil permeate our lives

Two stories which can’t be ignored this week.

Vladimir Putin launched his 17th drone attack on Kyiv this month. Little schoolchildren ran for cover, the old huddled in their homes, the unfortunate were maimed or killed. The city defence force shot down most of the Russian missiles but no doubt the criminal attacks will continue in an attempt to grind down Ukraine until it begs for peace.

The second story: earlier this week, Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyut refused to shake hands with Belarusian superstar Aryna Sabalenko. Kostyuk was consequently booed by spectators at the French Open.

Make no doubt about it. Whether killer drones drop on Kyiv or a Belorusian millionaire youngster wins a tennis match, politics has leaked into the sports arena. It can’t be ignored.

And to repeat myself with brain-deadening regularity, no country will avoid this incursion. In a month’s time, Wimbledon opens its gates. Russian and Belorussian tennis players, some of the best in the world, will compete. And every time they win a point, a set, a match, a tournament, it will be a powerful victory for these two criminals states in their battle of soft power.

We donate weapons to Ukraine then welcome athletes from a pair of thug nations….

Wimbledon, to be fair, tried a ban last year. Greedy tennis players, with an eye on their bank accounts, said they’d refuse to play in the two week grass court event again if they couldn’t accrue vital points towards their professional rankings. Wimbledon also faced huge fines because it would ‘discriminate’ against the Russian/Belorusian contingent if it continued its ban.

Because of this, the war will come to Wimbledon, to London, to Britain.

With one hand, we will donate weaponry to beleaguered Ukraine. With the other hand, we will (maybe reluctantly) offer a welcome to athletes from a pair of thug nations. Let’s just see if politicians refuse their free tickets to watch Wimbledon. And whether the British royalty turns its Ruritanian back on a sullied sport which puts money before simple human values.