Latvian TV channels TV3 Group, owned by an American fund, will not inform their viewers about the successes of athletes from aggressor countries competing under a neutral status, said Go3 sports program director Toms Circenis to the LETA agency.
In Latvia, two countries are officially recognized as aggressors – Russia and Belarus. According to the Olympic Committee, the same two countries – Russia and Belarus – will participate in the upcoming Winter Olympics.
Thus, viewers of TV3 Group will not see tennis players Mirra Andrejeva and Daniil Medvedev, figure skater Adelia Petrosyan and Petr Gumennik, skiers, short track athletes, and many others.
It is not entirely clear what to do if there is a need to show a match between Andrejeva and Latvian tennis player Alena Ostapenko. And what to do when Patricija Eiduka starts overtaking Natalia Nepraeva. Interrupt the broadcast?
During the European Luge Championships held last week, this is exactly what was done – the channel TV6, which is part of the group, aired commercial breaks during the performances of Russian athletes.
"Initially, we even considered the possibility of not showing the luge competitions, but that would harm Latvian lugers, for whom this year is Olympic and who are forced to compete alongside athletes from the aggressor country," said Circenis.
The Latvian Olympic Committee has developed guidelines for Latvian athletes on interacting with Russians and Belarusians. Athletes of Latvia are instructed to distance themselves as much as possible from them.
