The Union Européenne de Cyclisme Management Board met today in an extraordinary meeting by videconference to discuss the current situation in Europe.
In view of the upcoming UEC annual Congress planned on Sunday 6 March in Odense (Denmark), at the meeting the UEC Vice-President Alexander Gusyatnikov (Russia) and the UEC Management Board Member Natallia Tsylinskaya (Belarus), in agreement with all the Management Board, said that they would not be taking part in the Congress next Sunday, along with the National Federation delegations of Russia and Belarus.
Enrico Della Casa, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «In the difficult circumstances that we are currently experiencing, sport must play an even greater role in spreading a message of peace and condemning all forms of violence. We are in constant contact with the Union Cycliste Internationale regarding any future decisions that we will naturally agree to and implement. However, we hope that the situation will have been resolved when our events start with the BMX European Cup in Verona (Italy) on 2 April.
I would like to thank Vice-President Gusyatnikov and Management Board Member Tsylinskaya, as well as the leaders of the Federations of Russia and Belarus, for their sensitivity and responsibility shown by their decision to not take part in the UEC Congress next Sunday.
We stand behind all the people affected by this dramatic situation, especially all the athletes who are also suffering the consequences.»
No further comments will be made following this press release.
