Søren Wærenskjold opted out of the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia to protest the country's oppressive human rights practices. He previously rejected a move to UAE Team Emirates for similar reasons, emphasizing the importance of making ethical choices in sports. Uno-X Mobility team respects his stance, confirming that their participation does not equate to support for Saudi Arabia's government. General manager Thor Hushovd acknowledged diverse athlete opinions on such critical matters, recognizing the moral considerations involved in racing in regions with significant human rights issues.
"I said I didn't want to go back, and the team has respected that. I'd rather stay here. If the team had told me I had to go, I couldn't have said anything about it."
"It's because of human rights. There is evidence of people being imprisoned and killed because of their political views. Gay rights, women's rights... there are many problems."
"Participation does not mean that they support the regime," Hushovd said, acknowledging the complexities of athletes' participation in events in countries with poor human rights records.
"You would rather make the morally and ethically right choice," said Wærenskjold regarding his decision to skip the races in Saudi Arabia.
Collection
[
|
...
]