MOSCOW, March 17 in an open letter to the head of the International Handball Federation (IHF) Hassan Mustafa and the president of the European Handball Federation (EHF) Michael Wiederer with a request to allow them to participate in international tournaments. In early March, the IHF and EHF suspended Russian and Belarusian teams and clubs from participating in international tournaments for an indefinite term due to the situation in Ukraine.» We do not understand why we were deprived of the opportunity to do our life's work and why we were removed from international competitions, which we so dreamed of and for which we seriously prepared. We have always believed that real sport gives everyone equal opportunities and remains out of politics, but now we, ordinary boys and girls, as devoted to handball as our peers from other countries, have been made outcasts without explanation. the fundamental principles of sport, which we have always been guided by,» the letter presented by the press service of the Russian Handball Federation reads. «More and more often we hear the voices of people from other countries who do not understand and do not accept the exclusion of Russian athletes from international competitions. Member of the Sports Council of Norway, the country's highest sports body, Eivind Vatterdal, in protest against sports sanctions against Russians and Belarusians, left his post — «to be able to honestly look into the eyes of his colleagues.» We ask you, dear Hassan Mustafa and Michael Wiederer, to show wisdom and independence in making decisions and allow Russian teams and clubs to take part in international competitions. Otherwise, we will be deprived of a full-fledged opportunity to engage in the work to which we expected to devote our lives. We hope for reason, justice and the triumph of the sporting spirit,» the letter says.
