Skaters : The Russian figure skating championship is being held in St. Petersburg, the results of which will determine the backbone of the team that will go to the Olympic Games in Beijing. It is not surprising that our national selection is monitored in countries that love figure skating, and whose athletes can compete with the Russian ones. Also viewed in the USA and Canada. They look and are surprised at the absence of masks and non-observance of any covid measures, although the Olympics are ahead.
In early December, in St. Petersburg, where the Russian figure skating championship is now being held, 50 percent attendance at sporting events was allowed. And everyone who watches the broadcasts from the competition sees that the Sports Palace is really half full. Well, or empty, as you like.
But attentive viewers also noticed that behind the side the coaches were waiting for their wards without masks, in the Kiss and Cry zone the same situation: everyone hugs, kisses, and no one puts on protective equipment. In the stands, too, not all people covered their faces, while everyone is sitting shoulder to shoulder. They also shout and loudly support the skaters (and we remember that at many major tournaments, including the Tokyo Olympics, when we thought that there would be spectators, they recommended not to make sounds, because this is more likely to spread the virus).
The judges were also without masks, and during the free program of dance duets toys and flowers flew on the ice. But last year Rospotrebnadzor recommended not to do this due to the epidemiological situation.
During the draw, which took place on the eve of the first day of the competition, there were also few medical masks, and all this is surprising. But for some reason, mostly skaters and figure skating fans overseas.
The rest of the social network users supported her.
“I’m confused. Isn’t anyone worried about Omicron at the Russian Championship?”
“I read that they do not give vaccines to children under 18 years of age. Maybe it’s not true, I don’t know. I also read that China will give them a pass to the Olympics and will not force them to quarantine for 21 days. On the one hand, this sounds unlikely, but on the other hand, this is Russia. “
“Even if they are not afraid of dying from COVID, positive tests will prevent them from competing and at least prevent them from exercising. A little less than 2 months are left before the Olympics, they are playing with fire. “
“It’s sad that they don’t care, and they could potentially infect other athletes and coaches who take precautions.”
“Because they see their skaters as a consumable and more likely to believe that they will win the team gold no matter which team they send.”
There was a similar scandal in 2020, when spectators were admitted to the Rostelecom Cup, the famous American journalist Philip Hersh was indignant: “Russia plays Russian roulette, allowing spectators to enter the stands at the Rostelecom Cup. According to the latest data, Russia is in fifth place in terms of the number of cases of coronavirus. Russia disregards ISU recommendations, allowing coaches and athletes to hug and kiss in Kiss and Cry, all without masks and keeping distance. “
After the tournament, there was also a traditional banquet, during which the rules were observed even less. And after a while, part of the national team was killed. The coronavirus was officially confirmed then by Elizaveta Tuktamysheva , Dmitry Aliev, Alena Kostornaya . Someone just had a cold or pneumonia with negative tests.
Tiffany Zagorski suffered the coronavirus even earlier, and this year she was diagnosed with pneumococcal bacterial meningitis, the skater was in the hospital for a long time. As she herself admitted, she tried to show the maximum at the Russian championship, but in the end, during the free program, she felt bad. The couple could barely finish their dance, after which the doctors rushed to Tiffany and carried her out of the palace in their arms. The athlete’s weakened health is also a reason to try to protect her from the likelihood of contracting the virus again, even though a couple of Zagorski and Gureiro (who, by the way, also recovered) were left without a chance to go to Beijing.
While the United States, Canada and most European countries are reintroducing tough restrictive measures in an effort to prevent the rapid spread of the Omicron strain, many wonder why few in Russia are concerned.
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