Latvian sports journalists invite sports community to be more critical of Russia’s attack on Ukraine

More than 50 Latvian sports journalists have signed an invitation for the sports community to voice stronger condemnation of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
In this invitation, Latvian Russian-speaking athletes and sports-related personnel are urged to reach out to their communities in an effort to change their minds about 9 May, which, according to Latvian sports journalists and many politicians, directly or indirectly glorifies events of WWII, as well as condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
«Victims of war deserve to be remembered by their close ones, but it can be done in a way already used for this enormous tragedy – with a moment of silence – and done together with the rest of Europe – on 8 May, which is an official Day of Defeat of Nazism and the Day of Commemoration of Victims of WWII in Latvia. Especially if surviving relatives know the place of death of their their close ones. If they do not, you can always find another way,» as mentioned in the open letter, which also includes an invitation to not gather near the monument in Victory Park in Riga on 9 May.
The invitation also stresses that the 9 May celebration tradition cannot be changed in a single day, but it is nevertheless important to take the first steps in hopes that in ten to 20 years this topic will no longer fracture Latvia’s society.
«We invite Latvian athletes and the entire Latvian sports community to not sit on the sidelines in the topic of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Athletes are an important part of society. Their opinions have often been respected,» the invitation mentions.
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This is why journalists invite athletes to actively condemn Russia’s aggression and contact their colleagues in Russia to not stay silent and work to put a stop to the aggression in Ukraine.
Athletes are invited to not only post Ukrainian flag or words ‘Stop the war’ in social networks but also to be brave, because opinions posted by athletes on social media or news media can help reach a wider audience.