'He's made it clear': Wayne Gretzky backs PM Carney's call to bar Russia from world juniors
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that Russian and Belarusian athletes will be barred from competing in Canada, including the upcoming world junior hockey championships. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky has publicly voiced his support for this decision.
Why it matters
The decision reflects the intersection of international sports diplomacy and geopolitical sanctions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be permitted to represent their countries on Canadian soil while the war in Ukraine continues.
The decision came after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled Russia must be reinstated to international hockey competition, starting with the world juniors. Russian and Belarusian teams have been banned since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at a Friday ceremony in Toronto hosted by Upper Deck to rename the Hockey Hall of Fame's resource centre in honour of his late father, Gretzky said he supports Carney's position.
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