Thank you to everyone who stood with us throughout the #NoBloodInOurPool campaign – every letter, every share, every voice heard outside the Sydney Aquatic Centre as russia played under its blood-soaked flag and anthem at the World Aquatics Water Polo Finals 2026.
We remain deeply disappointed and concerned that the Government allowed a russian national team to compete on Australian soil — despite its own statement that “russia’s participation in international competition should not be normalised”.
We are equally disappointed that Water Polo Australia hosted the team, while Norway, Finland and Poland’s swimming federations have refused to host events involving russian and belarusian teams.
The Anthony Albanese Government should match its words with action. We urge it to push more strongly to keep russia out of international competition while russia’s war on Ukraine continues. And to every Australian sporting body built on fair play: how can including russian teams be fair to Ukrainian athletes?
Since launching in mid-May, the campaign secured:
A strong community response — 345+ letters sent to the Foreign Minister, Sports Minister and Water Polo Australia.
Strong global support for our campaign launch: social media engagement from 18,000+ people.
Wide media coverage of the issue, highlighting community concerns.
Backing from senior Coalition spokespeople, Senator Jonno Duniam, Shadow Minister for Home Affair and Senator Dave Sharma, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.
Serious legal questions raised, with the assistance of a sanctions expert, about Australia’s compliance with its own sanctions laws.
Support from Ukrainian Australian Olympic water polo player Andrei Kovalenko from Magura Water Polo Academy, Ukrainian journalist Artem Khudolieiev, and the Ukrainian World Congress – Свiтовий Конґрес Українців: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/no-blood-in-our-pool-ukrainians-in-australia-push-back-against-russias-return-to-sport/
russia bombs Ukraine by night — and sportswashes by day. A case in point: russia’s own state media outlet, TASS, quoted the coach claiming his team received a “warm welcome” in Australia — exactly the sort of propaganda fed to russian audiences. In reality, the visit was met with wide media coverage highlighting our community’s concerns, and senior political figures condemning it.
Media coverage in our AFUO Newsroom: https://afuo.org.au/news
#NoBloodInOurPool #StandWithUkraine #AFUO #WaterPoloAus #WorldAquatics #SanctionsMatter
