The head of Russia's North Caucasus region of Daghestan, Sergei Melikov, said on July 18 that a sports stadium in the regional capital, Makhachkala, named after two-time Olympic pole-vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva must be renamed after the Spain-based athlete publicly stated that she is "a person of the world." Once an active Kremlin supporter, Isinbayeva said on July 17 that she will resume her work at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in September "as the IOC has no doubts about me and I don't fall under any sanctions." Although Isinbayeva was placed on a Ukrainian sanctions list in February, the IOC has cleared her of having links to Russia's military or its invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Caucasus.Realities, click here.
Russia's Daghestan To Rename Stadium Following Isinbayeva Statement
Former Olympic pole-vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva (file photo)