Last week Europe entered into a situation which many would have never expected to happen in the modern era.
On the order of President Vladamir Putin, Russian forces began a military assault on neighboring Ukraine in what he described as a ‘special operation.’ Tanks have entered the country, multiple missiles have been fired at numerous cities and many have already died. According to UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet on Monday, at least 102 civilians have been killed but that number is feared to be significantly higher. On top of this, both the Russian and Ukrainian forces have suffered high death tolls.
In response to the conflict, the world has united in calls for this war to end with immediate effect. In the world of sport, FIFA and Uefa have suspended Russia from international competition for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, the International Olympic Committee has recommended that Russian and Belarussian athletes be banned from international competition or be immediately recognized as neutral athletes. Belarus is accused of supporting Russia’s ongoing military campaign.
As of the morning of March 1st 2022, all governing bodies of tennis are yet to publicly address the IOC’s call regarding the status of Russian and Belarussian players.
CEO Ubaldo Scanagatta has written the following letter proposing a way which the sport can address the issue through the use of a symbol Ubitennis has designed.
This letter has been sent to the ITF, multiple tennis federations, ATP, WTA, Hall of Fame, International Club Council, International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA) and multiple media organizations.
Dear friends of tennis,
The IOC and some sports have taken a rather firm stance with regard to the dramatic times Ukraine and Europe are going through. So far Tennis has provided a milder response.
Ubitennis, the only trilingual tennis website in the world, wishes to suggest that the 722 federations engaged in Davis Cup this weekend use this symbol (which can be seen below). This is not meant to embrace any instance of a nation towards another.
It delivers a message everybody can share, whichever their ideologies or political interests, and most of all ITF, Tennis Europe, Hall of Fame and all the Tennis Federations and Institutions that cherish our sport.
Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of possible uses of the symbol on the occasion of the Davis Cup matches and of the BJK Cup:
1. Printed on a white t-shirt which may be worn by the tennis players while training, by the ball boys, the line judges and the umpires.
2. On the t-shirt at the beginning of the team presentation ceremony.
3. Represented by a ball boy choreography. A graphic reproduction may be featured in a dedicated space.
4. Temporarily tattooed on the players’ arms or faces.
5. Painted near the name of the cities hosting the event, always visible: the most effective message.
Ubitennis hopes that the symbol and any idea shall be taken into consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Ubaldo Scanagatta, Ubitennis founder and ITWA member
P.S. All organizations have been asked to forward this open letter to all their members (players, coaches and so on).
