Aze.US
Azerbaijani sports journalist Vugar Vugarli has issued a sharp public critique of the country’s decision to send figure skater Vladimir Litvintsev to the Olympic Games, raising broader concerns about athlete selection and long-term development strategy in winter sports.
In his address, Vugarli noted that the skater had finished 18th at the previous Olympics and, in the years since, had not reached top-ten placements at major world or European championships. Despite this, the athlete reportedly continued to receive financial and institutional support.
The journalist expressed particular concern over the most recent Olympic result, where the skater exited competition at an early stage and did not advance beyond the short program.
He also questioned the decision to appoint the athlete as Azerbaijan’s flag bearer, calling the outcome unprecedented in the country’s Olympic history.
Vugarli further criticized what he described as a lack of visible contribution to the domestic development of figure skating, including youth engagement, public promotion of the sport, and involvement in local training initiatives.
He called on the national winter sports federation to provide a clear explanation of both the Olympic selection decision and the broader strategic vision for developing competitive athletes.
No official response from the federation had been issued at the time of publication.