This should not be happening on Australian soil. Tomorrow, the blood-soaked russian flag will fly at Sydney Olympic Park.
We are urgently calling on all Ukrainian Australians and supporters to attend a protest tomorrow condemning the participation of the russian national women’s water polo team at the 2026 Water Polo World Cup Finals.
Wednesday 22 July — from 3:30pm
Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre
russia plays the Netherlands at 4:45pm
Ukrainian Council of NSW event: https://www.facebook.com/events/896883506189967
The team has direct links to russian entities and individuals sanctioned by the Australian Government – yet will compete while russia continues to bomb Ukrainian cities and kill civilians every day.
The team’s presence in Sydney normalises russia’s genocidal aggression in Ukraine, hands the Kremlin a propaganda victory, and is an insult to the more than 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since the full-scale invasion began.
Our anger and deep dismay have already been heard. Yesterday and today, the Daily Telegraph, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald published stories on our campaign. 7NEWS Australia has interviewed Andrew Mencinsky, UCNSW President – and we are not done.
Join us tomorrow at the protest!
If you can’t be there — email Water Polo Australia: https://standwithukraine.good.do/waterpolo/
Read the newspaper stories here: https://afuo.org.au/news
Sport must not be used to normalise russia’s aggression or sportswash its war crimes.
#NoBloodInOurPool #StandWithUkraine #AFUO #SportswashingKills #AustraliaStandsWithUkraine
