State Duma Deputy Svetlana Zhurova commented on the information that the Russian women’s basketball team may not play in the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup in the United States due to problems with visas and vaccines.
“Things like this are always done in advance. There is a special department that allows athletes to come to competitions on special occasions. Skaters and other athletes have already been allowed in with Russian vaccinations. It’s just that our federations should work in conjunction with this department.
As for visas, everyone does everything in advance. Only some have problems, while others do not. Pull to the end, of course, there is such a moment. You just need to do everything with a margin. The federation must make every effort.
But still, for athletes, the vaccinations of the countries where they compete should be recognized so that such problems do not arise later, ”said Zhurova.
The 2022 World Cup qualification will be held from February 10 to 13 in Washington.
Russian women are not allowed into the US capital without being vaccinated with one of the drugs approved by WHO. In addition, the team had a problem with visas, which the US Embassy in Russia stopped issuing in 2020.