A school basketball participant was met with cheers over the weekend as he stepped on and off the courtroom whereas holding Ukraine's flag over his shoulders.

Pavlo Dziuba, a ahead on the College of Maryland's Terrapins males's basketball crew, was born in Kyiv and introduced the flag onto the courtroom with him in help of his dwelling nation following Russia's invasion final week. Dziuba's show of help got here as some worldwide sports activities organizations moved to prohibit Russia's participation in competitions by banning athletes and discouraging shows of the Russian flag.

The College of Maryland's crew Twitter account started posting content material demonstrating its help for Dziuba and Ukraine shortly after Russia's invasion started. In a February 24 submit, the crew shared pictures of basketball footwear marked with messages studying, "pray for Ukraine," "no conflict" and "peace," together with the hashtag #StandWithUkraine, Dziuba's title, and blue and yellow emoji hearts, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

In one other submit by the crew, Dziuba appeared in a photograph standing with the Ukrainian flag stretched out behind him. The submit additionally contained a photograph of Alex Len, a former College of Maryland participant and at present one in all two gamers within the NBA initially from Ukraine.

Len, who performs for the Sacramento Kings, launched a joint assertion condemning the escalating army battle alongside fellow Ukrainian participant Svi Mykhailiuk of the Toronto Raptors final week.

"An incredible tragedy befell our pricey homeland Ukraine," the athletes' assertion stated. "We categorically condemn the conflict. Ukraine is a peaceable, sovereign state inhabited by individuals who wish to determine their very own future. We pray for our households, associates, relations and all of the people who find themselves within the territory of Ukraine."

"We hope for an finish to this horrible conflict as quickly as attainable," their assertion continued. "Expensive fellow Ukrainians, maintain on! Our power is in unity! We're with you!"

The Sacramento Kings held a second of silence in help of Ukraine forward of the crew's February 24 dwelling recreation in opposition to the Denver Nuggets. Len's and Mykhailiuk's groups have been each scheduled to play separate video games Monday night.

Pavlo Dziuba Ukraine Maryland
Cheers met Pavlo Dziuba, #12 of the Maryland Terrapins, as he walked onto the basketball courtroom with the Ukrainian flag draped over his shoulders over the weekend. Above, Dziuba (R) is photographed through the nationwide anthem earlier than the sport in opposition to the Ohio State Buckeyes at Xfinity Middle on February 27, 2022, in School Park, Maryland.Greg Fiume/Getty Photos

At a house recreation over the weekend, Dziuba appeared in a video later shared on his crew's Twitter account forward of their Sunday recreation. Within the video, Dziuba stepped onto the courtroom with Ukraine's flag draped over his shoulders as the group cheered his crew's entrance.

"Pavlo representing his nation," the crew's tweet stated. "Our hearts are with him."

A video shared by CBS Sports activities equally confirmed Dziuba later heading off the courtroom along with his teammates whereas holding the flag above his head as the group cheered.

Newsweek reached out to the crew for additional remark.

Russia's assault on Ukraine final week was described by U.S. President Joe Biden as a "brutal assault" that started "with out provocation, with out justification, with out necessity." Sports activities organizations representing nations world wide started discouraging competitions from admitting Russian athletes within the wake of the invasion.

On February 25, the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) inspired different sporting organizations to maneuver or cancel occasions initially scheduled to happen in Russia and in Belarus, a Russian ally, citing the pace of the invasion as a violation of the Olympic Truce within the wake of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Video games. The IOC took one step additional on Monday by recommending a short lived ban of Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitors.

FIFA additionally launched an announcement on Monday barring Russian groups from competing, a ban that would block Russia from participation within the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Nationwide Hockey League (NHL) equally stated on Monday that it's "suspending our relationships with our enterprise companions in Russia" and "pausing our Russian language social and digital media websites," with potential future video games in Russia additionally now not below the league's consideration.