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Belarus Olympics: Krystsina Tsimanouskaya refuses 'forced' flight home | Belarus Olympics: Krystsina Tsimanouskaya refuses 'forced' flight home |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Krystsina Tsimanouskaya asked the International Olympic Committee for help | Krystsina Tsimanouskaya asked the International Olympic Committee for help |
A Belarusian sprinter voiced fears for her safety as she refused an order to fly home early from the Olympics for criticising her coaches. | A Belarusian sprinter voiced fears for her safety as she refused an order to fly home early from the Olympics for criticising her coaches. |
Krystsina Tsimanouskaya says she was forced to pack before being taken to the airport in Tokyo against her will. | Krystsina Tsimanouskaya says she was forced to pack before being taken to the airport in Tokyo against her will. |
The 24-year-old says she sought police protection at the terminal so she would not have to board the flight. | The 24-year-old says she sought police protection at the terminal so she would not have to board the flight. |
"I think I am safe. I am with the police," she was heard saying, as she was pictured surrounded by officers. | "I think I am safe. I am with the police," she was heard saying, as she was pictured surrounded by officers. |
The sprinter, who was due to compete in the women's 200m event on Monday, had complained on social media about being entered into another race at short notice. | The sprinter, who was due to compete in the women's 200m event on Monday, had complained on social media about being entered into another race at short notice. |
She says she was "put under pressure" by team officials to return home and asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for help. | She says she was "put under pressure" by team officials to return home and asked the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for help. |
"They are trying to get me out of the country without my permission," she said in a video posted on the Telegram channel of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), a group that supports athletes jailed or sidelined for their political views. | "They are trying to get me out of the country without my permission," she said in a video posted on the Telegram channel of the Belarusian Sport Solidarity Foundation (BSSF), a group that supports athletes jailed or sidelined for their political views. |
The IOC said it was seeking clarification from Belarussian officials - who earlier said she was taken off the team because of her "emotional and psychological condition". | The IOC said it was seeking clarification from Belarussian officials - who earlier said she was taken off the team because of her "emotional and psychological condition". |
In a later message, the IOC said it had spoken to Ms Tsimanouskaya. "She has told us she feels safe," it said. | |
The flight took off without Ms Tsimanouskaya on board. She is now "safe" and in police protection, the BSSF's Anatol Kotau told the BBC. | The flight took off without Ms Tsimanouskaya on board. She is now "safe" and in police protection, the BSSF's Anatol Kotau told the BBC. |
Earlier Ms Tsimanouskaya told radio station European Radio for Belarus (ERB) she was afraid to return to her country. | Earlier Ms Tsimanouskaya told radio station European Radio for Belarus (ERB) she was afraid to return to her country. |
The athlete sought police protection at the airport terminal | The athlete sought police protection at the airport terminal |
She had previously alleged in a video posted online that she was entered into this Thursday's 400m relay event at short notice by Belarusian officials, after some teammates were found to be ineligible to compete. | She had previously alleged in a video posted online that she was entered into this Thursday's 400m relay event at short notice by Belarusian officials, after some teammates were found to be ineligible to compete. |
State media criticised her after she posted the video, with one television channel saying she lacked "team spirit". | |
On Sunday, she claims officials came to her room and gave her an hour to to pack her bags before being escorted to Tokyo's Haneda airport. | |
She said she had been removed from the team due "to the fact that I spoke on my Instagram about the negligence of our coaches". | |
The BSSF was set up in August 2020 to support athletes during protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, re-elected last year in a disputed presidential vote. | The BSSF was set up in August 2020 to support athletes during protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, re-elected last year in a disputed presidential vote. |
Government forces brutally cracked down after hundreds of thousands protested about the election. Some of those who took part were also national-level athletes, who were stripped of funding, cut from national teams and detained for demonstrating. | Government forces brutally cracked down after hundreds of thousands protested about the election. Some of those who took part were also national-level athletes, who were stripped of funding, cut from national teams and detained for demonstrating. |
Ms Tsimanouskaya is now said to be considering seeking asylum in Europe. | |
Several countries, including the Czech Republic and Poland, have said they are ready to offer her a visa and protection. | |
But the sprinter remains "frightened" about her family's safety, Mr Kotau of the BSSF told the BBC. | |
"She's afraid of repression on her family in Belarus - this is the main concern for her right now," he said. |