Athletes: We cannot remain indifferent to the fate of our country. Let's remember the unifying power of sport!

Athletes are people who, through their victories, shape the image of any country. Their words, like the results in the arena, are loud. Mixing politics with sports is another dishonest leverage for protesters. So, outside Belarus, a community called "Free Association of Athletes" has emerged.

Being in opposition to the current government, its members went against their own colleagues and began to call on international structures to deprive the NOC of Belarus of recognition in the Olympic movement. One of their aspirations is to ban the national flag at the upcoming Tokyo Games. Naturally, most of the Belarusian athletes who want to live in peace and prepare for the upcoming competitions could not remain silent.

These are the winning shots of the second European games. The titled Belarusian cyclist Tatyana Sharakova takes her second medal. The national anthem is played in honor of the champion. The native Belarusian flag is raised. Sharakova will be one of the first to sign the appeal to the international community.

As soon as the first signatures appear under the appeal, the athletes immediately felt all the "love" of those with whom they once shared gyms and rejoiced in common victories. Criticism on the verge of insults, even threats, poured from pages on social networks. Negativity turning into obscene language erupted from the fans, who once idolized them. Indeed, according to their convictions, there is no alternative opinion.

Among those who signed the appeal are not only active athletes who are ready, and most importantly, are able to more than once glorify Belarus with their victories throughout the world. Next to their signatures are the big names and surnames of those who brought glory to our sport earlier, but as real champions now they want to do everything they can for it. Elina Zvereva, Alexander Medved, Ekaterina Karsten, Alexander Maseikov, Sergey Bulygin - you can read the list for a long time. In addition to rich sports past, they have colossal life experience, honor, and most importantly honesty behind them.

The international community is supported by those who are directly and closely related to sports - athletes and coaches, champions, prize-winners and young and promising athletes. There are no random people here. And every day the number of subscribers is growing.