“Lithuanian high school students, who competed in the European Robotics Championship in Italy over the weekend, refused to face a Russian team.
The strongest European teams were competing in Italy for the chance to go to the World Championships in Houston, US.
In total, four Lithuanian teams had to participate in the competition. However, two of them – Litbot and Lituanica X – were disqualified because they refused to compete with the Russians.
When Lithuanians found out that Russians would be taking part in the competition, they wrote a protest asking for the teams from the aggressor country to be banned from the competition. The protest was rejected by the organisers.
The Lithuanian teams that were grouped with the Russians then refused to face them in the duels and raised Lithuanian and Ukrainian flags instead. Despite being among the competition leaders, they lost the crucial points due to this act and did not qualify for the World Championships.
“Many of them were probably trembling inside, perhaps heroically holding back tears. But these were the strongest minutes of their silence and resistance. The kind that many of our sports federations and the Olympic Committee cannot do,” he added.
Lituanica – Vilnius Lyceum Robotics, another Lithuanian team, which did not have to compete in the same group as the Russians, won a ticket to Houston.
Lithuanian people and politicians have expressed their pride in the act by the high school students, which took place against the backdrop of the day of restoration of Independence of Lithuania on March 11.
“Children of March 11. They have made their personal achievement less important than human honour and dignity,” Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė wrote on Facebook.”
They did the right thing. Brave young people who were ready to sacrifice something valuable to them for doing the right thing. Show the world, stop allowing Russia to get away with its war and just continue competing as normal.
Russian high schoolers are not war criminals you know.
Well done kids. You made a stand for freedom. I salute your courage. And still surprised that Russian teams are participating anywhere, especially to be in the running to go to Houston.
Gigachads
Showing and doing the right thing.
Stand up for what is right, they have a bright future.
Yeah fuck those random high-schoolers doing what they love cause of their nationality, I bet they bombed at least 10 hospitals each using their skills! That definitely ought to show them ruzzkie bastards what’s up!
Every event that accepts russians should just be fined.
Who the hell invites russians nowadays. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Why does BAE systems sponsor an event which has russians learning robotics (which has military applications)?
This is absurd.
The russians are fascists who are waging war on the civilised world. They should be banned from all events.
If the individuals don’t like it, they can emigrate.
Well done lads, Russians should be banned from everywhere. Matter of fact, we should build a wall around Russia so it doesn’t infest the civilized world.
These kids showing more Integrity than a number of people around the world looking at you American republicans
These kids have bright future. Standing by your values is a key thing to your identity as a person and as a part of a nation. It’s the key thing why russia couldn’t force us into becoming part of what they call a russian nation without identity, however hard they tried for nearly 200 years.
Oh were there scared of loosing?
I don’t blame them. Glad some young people are happy to openly dislike the dictator Putin and his brain controlled little slaves in Russia.
I’d want nothing to do with anyone who was proud to be Russian these days.
Very based o7
How the fuck russians are still in Europe and in official events?!
Probably my flair alone will be enough to be downvoted to hell but still XD
I don’t really support this decision. This is high school we are talking about, most of them are even under 18 I guess, I’m guessing none of these Russians are involved in the conflict, hell they are studying robotics do you think they care about the war, I’m guessing they have worries of being recruited but probably they have nothing to do with the war itself. They can’t even vote.
This will be used by Putin’s regime, they will just say, we are so strong they are giving up even before the match. It honestly would not surprise me.
It would be understandable if the students themselves wore like “Z” shirts or if they were provoking that would be understandable, like this, in my opinion, it’s just making more divisions and is ostracizing the teens who still can’t even vote
It would have just been better to just ban them from participating since it is a European championship and they are already banned from many things in Europe. But I think it’s bad to ban people who still cannot vote from participating in anything
Afraid of losing?
Europe Union member, NATO member accepts ruzzians like war is not happening in Ukraine. Like ruzzia is not constantly undermining Europe and possibly looking to start a war with EU nations. Fucking pathetic.
“Who the hell invites russians nowadays. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
“Every event that accepts russians should just be fined.”
“They are still part of a genocidal nation.”
“Ruzzkies should not be alowed into civilized world in the first place.”
Lol, and after that, only Russians are Nazis. Liberals, do you have anything working in your brain when you write this?
Those kids have some backbone! I hope they receive a heroes’ welcome when they return to Lithuania!
Btw, who were the spineless organizers who decided to invite orc teams and penalize others for refusing to face them?
Some Lithuanian school kids have more sense in them than freaking adults in position of power and entire institutions who still think it’s OK to invite Russians to international events.
Why was Russia even invited?
Pathetic, it is just robots man
What a bunch of virtual signaling pussies. It’s a robotics competition for kids. They should be DQed if they’re not willing to participate. Waste of everyone’s time. You seriously want to punish Russian teenagers for the decisions made by their dictator? Gross.
Why are there russians there anyway?
Morons gave the win away to the russians instead of humiliating them by destroying them. This wasn’t brave or sacrificial, this was straight up bowing down to the russians and handing them the prize. It’s no different from saying “oh well we’ve got no chance because the russians are so much better than us, best to just give up”. Imagine what would have happened had they won. “Dumb russians lost against strong smart lithuanians, typical russian L, worst country, shouldn’t have even tried”. We were so close to another russian L and they went bozo mode instead.
Very disappointing behavior that I’m sad to see being encouraged in the comments here.
To be fully transparent, I am adamantly against Russia in their war against Ukraine. But let’s take a step back. This a *high school robotics competition*. Those Russian kids don’t have any say on what Putin decides to do as head of state. And the Lithuanian teams know that.
The way I see it, this is little more than virtue signalling and poor sportsmanship. Hell, maybe even borderline Russophobia.
The people of Russia are already being collectively punished enough with all the Western sanctions and the draft. Can’t we at least maintain some semblance of integrity on matters that are and always will be totally unrelated to the war?
Don’t shake hands if you don’t want to, fine. Hell, don’t even look them in the eyes. But at least play it out. Show that the actions of your leaders don’t define you. Be the bigger person. Is that really too much to ask?
the power of organization is void, if there are no competitors except rusians belarusians chinese and a few middle easters
This is entirely the wrong approach. These kids did nothing wrong and this is exactly where we should be telling them that we reject what our leaders do and we work together.
The teachers should have used this as a teaching moment.
Mad man Putin won’t give too hoots about this. Only thing we’re doing is teaching these kids to hate each other based on their nationality because of what their leaders do.
“The European Robotics League local and major tournaments are based in Europe and are open to international participation. Teams will compete in three vibrant fields of robotics under the theme of smart urban enviroments. Competitors will engage in annual local tournaments organised by a consortium of Europe´s most prestigious robotics institutes.”
These Russian kids and other civilians that participate in events and are discriminated everywhere are the same people that will continue to grow a hate towards the west, this generation will willingly give their life to their nation and easily be recruited and encouraged to join the army, history is repeating itself with 1933s Germany where ALOT of Germans (90%) willingly gave their life to fight for their nation.
Putin are taking advantage of this and people listening to him in Russia.
33 comments
“Lithuanian high school students, who competed in the European Robotics Championship in Italy over the weekend, refused to face a Russian team.
The strongest European teams were competing in Italy for the chance to go to the World Championships in Houston, US.
In total, four Lithuanian teams had to participate in the competition. However, two of them – Litbot and Lituanica X – were disqualified because they refused to compete with the Russians.
When Lithuanians found out that Russians would be taking part in the competition, they wrote a protest asking for the teams from the aggressor country to be banned from the competition. The protest was rejected by the organisers.
The Lithuanian teams that were grouped with the Russians then refused to face them in the duels and raised Lithuanian and Ukrainian flags instead. Despite being among the competition leaders, they lost the crucial points due to this act and did not qualify for the World Championships.
“Many of them were probably trembling inside, perhaps heroically holding back tears. But these were the strongest minutes of their silence and resistance. The kind that many of our sports federations and the Olympic Committee cannot do,” he added.
Lituanica – Vilnius Lyceum Robotics, another Lithuanian team, which did not have to compete in the same group as the Russians, won a ticket to Houston.
Lithuanian people and politicians have expressed their pride in the act by the high school students, which took place against the backdrop of the day of restoration of Independence of Lithuania on March 11.
“Children of March 11. They have made their personal achievement less important than human honour and dignity,” Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė wrote on Facebook.”
They did the right thing. Brave young people who were ready to sacrifice something valuable to them for doing the right thing. Show the world, stop allowing Russia to get away with its war and just continue competing as normal.
Russian high schoolers are not war criminals you know.
Well done kids. You made a stand for freedom. I salute your courage. And still surprised that Russian teams are participating anywhere, especially to be in the running to go to Houston.
Gigachads
Showing and doing the right thing.
Stand up for what is right, they have a bright future.
Yeah fuck those random high-schoolers doing what they love cause of their nationality, I bet they bombed at least 10 hospitals each using their skills! That definitely ought to show them ruzzkie bastards what’s up!
Every event that accepts russians should just be fined.
Who the hell invites russians nowadays. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Link to event [https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/2023/ITCMP](https://ftc-events.firstinspires.org/2023/ITCMP)
Why does BAE systems sponsor an event which has russians learning robotics (which has military applications)?
This is absurd.
The russians are fascists who are waging war on the civilised world. They should be banned from all events.
If the individuals don’t like it, they can emigrate.
Well done lads, Russians should be banned from everywhere. Matter of fact, we should build a wall around Russia so it doesn’t infest the civilized world.
These kids showing more Integrity than a number of people around the world looking at you American republicans
These kids have bright future. Standing by your values is a key thing to your identity as a person and as a part of a nation. It’s the key thing why russia couldn’t force us into becoming part of what they call a russian nation without identity, however hard they tried for nearly 200 years.
Oh were there scared of loosing?
I don’t blame them. Glad some young people are happy to openly dislike the dictator Putin and his brain controlled little slaves in Russia.
I’d want nothing to do with anyone who was proud to be Russian these days.
Very based o7
How the fuck russians are still in Europe and in official events?!
Probably my flair alone will be enough to be downvoted to hell but still XD
I don’t really support this decision. This is high school we are talking about, most of them are even under 18 I guess, I’m guessing none of these Russians are involved in the conflict, hell they are studying robotics do you think they care about the war, I’m guessing they have worries of being recruited but probably they have nothing to do with the war itself. They can’t even vote.
This will be used by Putin’s regime, they will just say, we are so strong they are giving up even before the match. It honestly would not surprise me.
It would be understandable if the students themselves wore like “Z” shirts or if they were provoking that would be understandable, like this, in my opinion, it’s just making more divisions and is ostracizing the teens who still can’t even vote
It would have just been better to just ban them from participating since it is a European championship and they are already banned from many things in Europe. But I think it’s bad to ban people who still cannot vote from participating in anything
Afraid of losing?
Europe Union member, NATO member accepts ruzzians like war is not happening in Ukraine. Like ruzzia is not constantly undermining Europe and possibly looking to start a war with EU nations. Fucking pathetic.
“Who the hell invites russians nowadays. They should be ashamed of themselves.”
“Every event that accepts russians should just be fined.”
“They are still part of a genocidal nation.”
“Ruzzkies should not be alowed into civilized world in the first place.”
Lol, and after that, only Russians are Nazis. Liberals, do you have anything working in your brain when you write this?
Those kids have some backbone! I hope they receive a heroes’ welcome when they return to Lithuania!
Btw, who were the spineless organizers who decided to invite orc teams and penalize others for refusing to face them?
Some Lithuanian school kids have more sense in them than freaking adults in position of power and entire institutions who still think it’s OK to invite Russians to international events.
Why was Russia even invited?
Pathetic, it is just robots man
What a bunch of virtual signaling pussies. It’s a robotics competition for kids. They should be DQed if they’re not willing to participate. Waste of everyone’s time. You seriously want to punish Russian teenagers for the decisions made by their dictator? Gross.
Why are there russians there anyway?
Morons gave the win away to the russians instead of humiliating them by destroying them. This wasn’t brave or sacrificial, this was straight up bowing down to the russians and handing them the prize. It’s no different from saying “oh well we’ve got no chance because the russians are so much better than us, best to just give up”. Imagine what would have happened had they won. “Dumb russians lost against strong smart lithuanians, typical russian L, worst country, shouldn’t have even tried”. We were so close to another russian L and they went bozo mode instead.
Very disappointing behavior that I’m sad to see being encouraged in the comments here.
To be fully transparent, I am adamantly against Russia in their war against Ukraine. But let’s take a step back. This a *high school robotics competition*. Those Russian kids don’t have any say on what Putin decides to do as head of state. And the Lithuanian teams know that.
The way I see it, this is little more than virtue signalling and poor sportsmanship. Hell, maybe even borderline Russophobia.
The people of Russia are already being collectively punished enough with all the Western sanctions and the draft. Can’t we at least maintain some semblance of integrity on matters that are and always will be totally unrelated to the war?
Don’t shake hands if you don’t want to, fine. Hell, don’t even look them in the eyes. But at least play it out. Show that the actions of your leaders don’t define you. Be the bigger person. Is that really too much to ask?
the power of organization is void, if there are no competitors except rusians belarusians chinese and a few middle easters
This is entirely the wrong approach. These kids did nothing wrong and this is exactly where we should be telling them that we reject what our leaders do and we work together.
The teachers should have used this as a teaching moment.
Mad man Putin won’t give too hoots about this. Only thing we’re doing is teaching these kids to hate each other based on their nationality because of what their leaders do.
How do we build a better future like this?
[https://eu-robotics.net/european-robotics-league/](https://eu-robotics.net/european-robotics-league/)
“The European Robotics League local and major tournaments are based in Europe and are open to international participation. Teams will compete in three vibrant fields of robotics under the theme of smart urban enviroments. Competitors will engage in annual local tournaments organised by a consortium of Europe´s most prestigious robotics institutes.”
These Russian kids and other civilians that participate in events and are discriminated everywhere are the same people that will continue to grow a hate towards the west, this generation will willingly give their life to their nation and easily be recruited and encouraged to join the army, history is repeating itself with 1933s Germany where ALOT of Germans (90%) willingly gave their life to fight for their nation.
Putin are taking advantage of this and people listening to him in Russia.