MOSCOW, Jan 24 Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Vadym Gutsait said that athletes were advised not to stand next to Russians during any events at the Olympic Games in order to avoid provocations. Earlier, a source said that Ukrainians were strongly advised to avoid joint photos with Russian athletes and not to give interviews in Russian.
" we had an online meeting with all athletes and coaches, where we discussed how to behave in such situations when there will be provocations, as was the case at the Summer Olympics, — quotes Gutzeit Suspilne.media. — All athletes are aware, they know how to behave in such situations. They must not stand together when Russian athletes stand with the flag <…>. They should know this, we've been working on it. After the Summer Olympics, this was not the first time we met with athletes and discussed it", — Gutzeit said.
After the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, a scandal erupted in Ukraine due to a joint photo of a bronze medalist in jumping the height of Yaroslav Maguchy with Russian Maria Lasitskene, who won the gold medal. Some Ukrainian media and nationalists criticized the photo. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, after a conversation with Maguchy, regarded the picture as «a consequence of emotions.» Maguchih is a junior lieutenant in the country's armed forces. The Beijing Olympics will be held February 4-20.