26-02-2022, 11:21 PM
How it affects TV scheduling in September is the least of anyones concerns now, but I'd be very surprised if F1 didn't have another race track step in. What will be interesting is the long term implications for sport which has repeatedly justified going to countries with questionable records under the guise of expanding the global reach of the event - although of course it's reaching those oil rich countries which seems to be a priority.
It's not really had much coverage beyond the golf pages over the last couple of weeks but there has been a huge outcry within the sport over a Saudi financed plan for a breakaway "Super league" tour, which had a couple of big names supposedly attached to it who have quickly had to make an about turn. In the shorter turn almost all sports with stops in Russia in the short term have pulled out - but suspect for many it's as much about logistics as it is the politics. Neither the ATP or WTA have made a call yet on October's Kremlin Cup but I don't think they'll be able to leave it much longer.
Longer term we may be looking at something similar to what happened to South Africa in the 70s and 80s for as long as Putin remains in charge of Russia, but as someone pointed out nowadays it's not quite as straight forward as just banning a country competing and the CAS may not do the situation any favours. There is also the issue of individuals, such as Medvedev on the ATP Tour who has just become the first world no. 1 other than Federer/Nadal/Djokovic/Murray for 19 years and the main breakthrough talent of the net generation, in a sport where it's really more about individual personalities than nationalities.
It's not really had much coverage beyond the golf pages over the last couple of weeks but there has been a huge outcry within the sport over a Saudi financed plan for a breakaway "Super league" tour, which had a couple of big names supposedly attached to it who have quickly had to make an about turn. In the shorter turn almost all sports with stops in Russia in the short term have pulled out - but suspect for many it's as much about logistics as it is the politics. Neither the ATP or WTA have made a call yet on October's Kremlin Cup but I don't think they'll be able to leave it much longer.
Longer term we may be looking at something similar to what happened to South Africa in the 70s and 80s for as long as Putin remains in charge of Russia, but as someone pointed out nowadays it's not quite as straight forward as just banning a country competing and the CAS may not do the situation any favours. There is also the issue of individuals, such as Medvedev on the ATP Tour who has just become the first world no. 1 other than Federer/Nadal/Djokovic/Murray for 19 years and the main breakthrough talent of the net generation, in a sport where it's really more about individual personalities than nationalities.
@Brekkietweets