Cyprus's flag bearer at Paris Olympics stirs controversy

The Olympic Games in Paris are fast approaching. On Friday, July 26th, the official opening ceremony will begin. Athletes from around the world will showcase their talents, and flag bearers will proudly carry their national flags. It has come to light that the daughter of a Russian oligarch representing Cyprus has been chosen as one of them, which has stirred considerable controversy.

The Olympic Games are the most important event for any athlete. They strive for four years to have the opportunity to compete. On Friday, July 26th, the grand event will commence in Paris. During the opening ceremony, teams from around the world will introduce those who will compete in the Olympic Games. Every country has selected flag bearers who will proudly carry their nation's flag. This is a great honour for an athlete.

The Olympic Games in Paris haven't started yet, but there are already murmurs of controversy. It concerns high jumper Elena Kulichenko, a Russian with a Cypriot passport. She is the daughter of oligarch Alexei Kulichenko. The controversy surrounds her role during the sporting event's opening ceremony. She has been chosen as the flag bearer for Cyprus, which many island residents disapprove of. It's not just about her Russian citizenship but also allegations of her involvement in an adult platform.

Anyone with even a passing interest in sports knows how immense an honour it is to be a flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The person carrying their country's flag is seen as a role model, a person of impeccable character, someone to emulate. Not all Cypriot citizens believe that Elena Kulichenko meets the criteria to be a flag bearer in Paris. Concerns stem from her background, her comments about Ukraine, and the alleged activities on an adult platform.

Kulichenko received her Cypriot passport in 2019. When asked about the basis for her documentation, she only mentioned she got it for "certain reasons." It's no secret, however, that her father, a Russian oligarch, had business interests in Cyprus. After Elena Kulichenko received a standard passport, she pursued a so-called sports passport, which she also successfully obtained.

The athlete stated she wanted to change her national colours due to controversies surrounding doping among Russians. From 2015 to 2022, when the war in Ukraine officially began, athletes from the East competed under a neutral flag. Later, they were banned from participating in sporting events. Kulichenko couldn't accept this decision.

The topic of Kulichenko resurfaced on the front pages because her competitor, the current European high jump champion and world record holder, is Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh. Tensions between the athletes can be expected, especially given the naturalized Cypriot's statement to Yle that she has no intention of commenting on the war in Ukraine.

A discussion began when it became official that Elena Kulichenko would be the flag bearer during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris. It wasn't just about her background. Attention focused on rumours that the athlete was involved in a blue platform, where one could purchase her erotic films and photos. Cypriot citizens began questioning whether she was an appropriate choice for flag bearer.

The eReportaz service reported that the daughter of the Russian oligarch was asked to disappear from the blue platform. Elena Kulichenko allegedly refused, emphasizing that the photos and videos were generated by artificial intelligence. Cypriot media are questioning why she hasn't taken steps to remove the images from the internet if they aren't hers. Kulichenko has not addressed this issue.