Snytsina Ends Her Career in the National Team: I Used to Call a Spade a Spade

The brave basketball player said that sport in Belarus is the propaganda of the regime.

The captain of the Belarusian national basketball team and bronze medalist of the 2007 European Championship Katsiaryna Snytsina decided to end her career in the national team. The basketball player told tut.by about this. The site cites her statement on this topic.

“In our country, sport is the propaganda of the regime. And I do not intend to be a part of it"

- I decided not to play for the national team anymore and officially announce my retirement from the national team of Belarus. This is a deliberate and unambiguous decision. I no longer want to represent Belarus in the international arena at a time when my people are suffering, subjected to torture and repression, when people are killed, maimed, and imprisoned with impunity. No matter how many officials assert that sport is out of politics, it is in our country that sport is the propaganda of the regime, and I do not intend to be a part of it.

As an athlete, I believe that I can bring much more benefit to society with my personal projects or joint initiatives with SOS.BY. For example, a month ago the Free Association of Athletes launched the Academy of Champions, in which we share knowledge and experience with the younger generation.

I want to continue to be useful to the Belarusian society, but I don’t want to play for the national team. And I don’t want to do this in the future, in a free new Belarus,” emphasized Katsiaryna Snytsina.

- 2020 changed me, like many Belarusians, as a person and a citizen. It became important for me that the people around me, those with whom I spend almost 24/7, share my values and position in life. In February, during the games for the national team in Riga, I realized that I did not have such support inside the national basketball team of Belarus.

At the same time, I honestly fulfilled my obligations on the court in qualifying matches, understanding that I was personally responsible for the result as the captain of the national team. We have achieved the desired result, made our way to the European Championship. Then I relieve myself of responsibility. I will note: I am not at all offended that I will not be able to take part in the European Championship and compete there for medals, - the basketball player said.

- I listened to myself and realized that I do not have even a shadow of sadness because of the termination of performances for the national team of Belarus. It seems that I have been on the new national team for many months - SOS.BY, which brings together incredible, free and honest athletes. I am immensely proud to be part of this particular team.

"An attempt to seal my mouth with a new contract failed"

Note that Katsiaryna Snytsina's contract with the RCOP for team sports expires on March 31, 2021. The captain of the Belarusian national team was offered to sign a new labor contract, but she was not satisfied with the clause of the additional agreement concerning the performances of athletes in the media.

- In February, I was indeed sent to sign a new contract, which I signed on each page, crossing out only "Clause 2.25" - "Do not allow publications and appearances in the media without the consent of the Employer" - and asked for a detailed explanation on it.

On March 15, I received a response from the Ministry of Sports, in which the explanations were approximately the following: “Approval of the publication means preliminary approval of the publication, the provision applies to comments by foreign media outlets, including at press conferences, improper performance of labor duties may result in disciplinary action..."

The next day, I received an order of dismissal from the national command, dated March 11th. In general, the contract with me was not renewed, since "the parties did not reach an agreement."

At the same time, in our reality, the national team can still summon to training camps and competitions an athlete who is not at stake. Recently, the manager of the national team asked me if I would come to the May training camp. But I don't want to play for the national team of Belarus anymore.

The attempt to seal my mouth with a new contract failed. I cannot and do not want to hear the phrase: "You yourself understand everything ...". I will not be silent, looking at what is happening in the country or the situation with repressed athletes. I used to call a spade a spade, - Snytsina emphasized.

Katsiaryna Snytsina played for the national team of Belarus since 2005, having won the bronze medal of the European Championship (she later put it up for a charity auction), took part in the Olympic Games.

She played for clubs from Belarus, Russia, France, Poland, Hungary, Turkey. Now she plays for the Nesibe Aydin team.

At the club level, she became a finalist, bronze medalist, and semi-finalist of the FIBA European Cup. Champion of Belarus and France, medalist of the championships of Russia, Belarus, Poland, winner of the Cup of Poland.