The Russian cross-country boss Yelena Välbe once again caused outrage in an interview. On the one hand she sharply criticizes the IOC and its President Thomas Bach, on the other hand she shoots at the LGBTQ community. This provokes violent reactions.
Yelena Välbe, head of the Russian cross-country skiing association and 14-time world champion and three-time Olympic champion as an athlete, is openly intolerant of queer people in winter sports. “As a mother of three children and grandmother of two grandchildren, I will never understand LGBT people,” she said in an interview with “Komsomolskaya Pravda”: “I don’t have to be forced to do that or be told that I’m tolerant towards these people have to be.”
What’s more, Välbe suggests that “separate Olympic Games” should be held. “Trust me, they’ll even have an audience.” According to the head of the Russian association, queer people have “a kind of global schizophrenia. You can’t call it any other way.” The 54-year-old described transgender people as “disgusting”. Statements that immediately caused great outrage within the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Norwegian IOC member Kristin Kloster Aasen made it clear on the broadcaster “NRK”: “I distance myself from Välbe’s position. In order to ensure participation, anti-discrimination, inclusion and fair play, the IOC last November published a general framework for the participation of LGBT Athletes farewell.”
In Russia, meanwhile, a law signed by President Vladimir Putin has existed since 2013, according to which people can be prosecuted for so-called “LGBT propaganda” in front of minors. On Thursday, the Duma approved a further tightening of the law.
Yelena Välbe meanwhile also slammed the IOC’s recommendation to continue banning Russia from ski competitions over the attack on Ukraine. The World Ski Association FIS, “that’s clear”, does not act independently, according to the head of the association: “I just don’t understand what the International Olympic Committee has to do with it if it’s not about the Olympic Games.” Välbe was “outraged to the core”. “I really don’t understand what Russia’s war against Ukraine has to do with sport,” said the ex-winter athlete.
