Ukrainian skier pulls out of Sochi in protest of violence back home
- 10 years ago
The slopes of Sochi are far from the violence of Ukraine.
But for Olympic skier Bogdana Matsotska, the turmoil in her homeland is just a phone call away.
Now she's withdrawing from Friday's slalom competition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"My friends are there at the Maidan, people I know, close friends of mine. To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition, which is peace, I simply cannot do it."
At the Olympic village, Ukrainian flags hanging on balconies now feature black ribbons to mark the violence.
Ukrainian team officials and some athletes also hold a minute of silence.
Matsotska says she didn't mean for politics to enter the Olympics but had no choice.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"I am not a political person I am totally out of politics and political parties, but
But for Olympic skier Bogdana Matsotska, the turmoil in her homeland is just a phone call away.
Now she's withdrawing from Friday's slalom competition.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"My friends are there at the Maidan, people I know, close friends of mine. To go on the start line when people are dying and when the authorities broke the main rule of the Olympic competition, which is peace, I simply cannot do it."
At the Olympic village, Ukrainian flags hanging on balconies now feature black ribbons to mark the violence.
Ukrainian team officials and some athletes also hold a minute of silence.
Matsotska says she didn't mean for politics to enter the Olympics but had no choice.
(SOUNDBITE) (Ukrainian) UKRAINIAN ALPINE SKIER, BOGDANA MATSOTSKA, SAYING:
"I am not a political person I am totally out of politics and political parties, but