Russian sports official suggests bombing London to end Olympic sanctions

Yelena Välbe, the president of Russia’s Cross-Country Ski Federation and former Olympic champion, has sparked global outrage by suggesting that bombing London might lead to the end of sanctions against Russia.

Välbe's comments came during a discussion about the ongoing sanctions imposed due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine with Russian news outlet News Ru.

"I'm going to say things that should never be said. If we had dropped some serious bomb on the center of London, everything would have already ended and we would have been allowed everywhere," she told the outlet. 

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Since the 2016 Rio Olympics, Russian athletes have been barred from competing under their nation’s flag, anthem, and name due to doping violations. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the International Olympic Committee extended the ban, preventing Russia and Belarus from competing officially. Athletes from these countries were forced to participate as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Välbe's remarks have caused a wave of backlash, with many condemning the comments as dangerous and inflammatory, particularly in her home country. Russian TV presenter Dmitry Guberniev was one of the first to speak out against Välbe, according to Pravda. 

"Normal people should now run away from her like from the plague. I want to say that the skiers of the Russian national team, especially the young ones, are simply horrified and shocked by some of Välbe's statements," he said.

While Svetlana Zhurova, a Russian Olympic speed skating champion, urged Välbe to be more cautious, according to Metro: "With such statements, she sets the western world against herself. She was joking, but it is not always understood. For some reason, they do not understand such humour there."

Välbe's frustrations with how Russia has been treated apparently go beyond the most recent sanctions, based on her initial comments to News Ru.

"Russia’s struggle with the entire outside world has been going on for centuries," she told the outlet. "They have never loved us, even when they pretended to love us. They always stand with a sharpened weapon behind their back. I love it when our country is strong and, probably, our strength irritates the whole world."

This controversy comes at a time when Russian athletes, including Välbe, have found themselves increasingly isolated due to the West’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many sporting bodies have banned Russian athletes from competing internationally, further increasing the tension between Russia and the global community.

Välbe is likely unhappy with the sanctions in the first place, as she has been a vocal supporter of the war in Ukraine. In 2022, she dismissed Russia's actions in the war by saying, "we are not at war with Ukraine and no one attacked it," as reported by the BBC.

As an athlete, Välbe (right) is highly decorated. She won three Olympic gold medals in the 1992, 1994, and 1998 relays. She also holds the records for most wins (45) and podiums (81) in FIS Cross-Country World Cup events. She won the World Cup in 1988-89, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1994-95, and 1996-97, as documented by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation.

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