Alena Leuchanka: We Will Change the System

Before you can be a great athlete, you have to be a human and a person.

Belarusian basketball player Alena Leuchanka shared her opinion on the situation with Sputnik. Let us remind you that, due to the financial situation, the club from Rechytsa announced the termination of participation in the Belarusian championship, Tribuna writes.

- There is a club Sputnik, the players of which signed a pro-government letter. And, this week, we saw that they were out of work. Will we see repression in sports against those who were silent or signed pro-government letters?

- Free sportsmen in their interviews said that, sooner or later, it will affect everyone. Many footballers say that they signed a letter to keep the club, otherwise, they won't be paid salaries, etc. But they need to understand, this is a machine. This is a machine of repression, which does not stop at anyone. Athletes need to pay attention to what is in their hearts and not do what they are forced to. But you see what happens... Sooner or later, it will affect everyone.

As for athletes, we occupy a certain stage in society. We have a certain responsibility to this society. There are people who support us, the same workers, doctors, etc. Until the athletes realize that they should have a responsibility to society... I am very sad for these people. And things like with Sputnik will happen. I am sure that we will see many of such Sputniks. And they will have to live with this stigma all their life. It turns out that he signed up for what is happening now with Sasha Ivulin, what is happening now with the independent media, which are simply being pulled out by the roots.

You know, I hope that, in the future, when our athletes grow, they will grow not only in their athletic qualities. We will change the system a little. Our children will grow up, and we will teach them that, before you can be a great athlete, you must be a human and a person. Because today you have sport, but tomorrow you don't. And remaining a human and a person is the main thing, - Leuchanka said on the air of the YouTube channel Malanka Media.

Let us remind you that 19 representatives of Sputnik signed a pro-government letter.