Russia being stripped of major sporting events
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STORY: As Russian forces moved deeper into Ukraine on Friday, sports bodies moved quickly to strip Russia of events.
Formula One cancelled the Grand Prix in Sochi as a result of Russian aggression, and St. Petersburg lost the Champions League final - club soccer's showpiece event.
European soccer governing body UEFA decided to relocate the Champions League final to the Stade de France in Paris after receiving support from French President Emmanuel Macron.
The decision was met with regret by the Kremlin but welcomed by UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries.
In a statement, she said quote:
“Russia must not be allowed to exploit sporting and cultural events on the world stage to legitimize its unprovoked, premeditated and needless attack against a sovereign democratic state.”
Meanwhile, Formula One, motorsport's governing body FIA, and the teams discussed the situation and came to the conclusion that it was "impossible to hold the Russian Grand Prix in the current circumstances."
The race, which joined the calendar in 2014, was scheduled for Sept. 25 at Sochi's Olympic Park.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged international sports federations to either move or cancel sports events currently planned in Russia or Belarus.
Russian troops entered Ukraine through Belarus when the invasion began on Thursday. The IOC added the two countries' flags should not be displayed at sports events.
