The Czech Baseball Association (CBA) will not be inviting the Russian national team to this year‘s Prague Baseball Week, the 41st edition of the tournament, in response to Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine earlier in the week.
“The Czech Baseball Association has watched with dismay Russia’s current attack on Ukraine and condemns it as a violation of all principles of democracy and law. The situation in Europe in recent days affects all of us, and we cannot ignore it and turn our eyes in another direction,” the CBA stated in a press release.
“The Czech Baseball Association’s Executive Board will discuss the situation on Monday, Feb 28, and make a major decision in support of Ukraine,” the press release continued.
The Russian national team was unable to compete at last year’s Prague Baseball Week because of public health restrictions tied to the global pandemic, but it won the gold medal at the 2020 tournament and has been a regular participant in the tournament, with 12 appearances heading back to 1989.