Ukrainian skier pulls out of Sochi in protest of violence back home
The slopes of Sochi are far from the violence of Ukraine.
But for Olympic skier Bogdana Matsotska, the turmoil in her homeland is just a phone call away.
Now she's withdrawing from Friday's slalom competition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"My friends are there at the Maidan, people I know, close friends of mine. To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition, which is peace, I simply cannot do it."
At the Olympic village, Ukrainian flags hanging on balconies now feature black ribbons to mark the violence.
Ukrainian team officials and some athletes also hold a minute of silence.
Matsotska says she didn't mean for politics to enter the Olympics but had no choice.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"I am not a political person I am totally out of politics and political parties, but
But for Olympic skier Bogdana Matsotska, the turmoil in her homeland is just a phone call away.
Now she's withdrawing from Friday's slalom competition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"My friends are there at the Maidan, people I know, close friends of mine. To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition, which is peace, I simply cannot do it."
At the Olympic village, Ukrainian flags hanging on balconies now feature black ribbons to mark the violence.
Ukrainian team officials and some athletes also hold a minute of silence.
Matsotska says she didn't mean for politics to enter the Olympics but had no choice.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"I am not a political person I am totally out of politics and political parties, but
Category
🗞
News