Lithuanian athlete Kornelia Dudaite was disqualified from the World Championship in functional sports in Budapest because of a T-shirt with the inscription “Make Russia small again”. About this informs Delphi.
Dudaite wore this T-shirt to protest against the participation of Russian athletes in the competition. She stated that she was informed of their presence, but believed that they would participate as neutral athletes. However, according to her, at the parade of nations, Russian athletes were wearing clothes with the name of their country, which violates the established rules.
Dudayte emphasized that she considers it unacceptable to congratulate Russian athletes at the championship, because, in her opinion, the aggressor country should not be congratulated anywhere and never.
“I had the same T-shirt as the president of Ukraine, and I thought that if it was necessary to show our civic position, then I would do it.” she explained.
At the parade of nations, the athlete appeared in this T-shirt, but the organizers considered it a provocation and demanded that she change clothes. At the same time, violations by Russian athletes were ignored. She was threatened that if she did not change her clothes, she or the entire Lithuanian team would be disqualified. Dudaite emphasized that her protest reflected only her personal position, and not the position of the entire national team.
She later received a letter offering to stay at the championships if she deleted all the photos in that T-shirt and agreed to change clothes. However, Dudayte refused, and she was taken out of the arena by security forces.
