The Russian national rhythmic gymnastics team may miss the 2020 European Championships, which is to be held in Kiev from 26 to 29 November. First, it became known the day before that domestic athletes were not included in the list of participants from 39 countries, published on the official website of the European Gymnastics Union (UEG). And then the information about the probable skip of the tournament was confirmed by the president of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics (VFHG) and the head coach of the national team Irina Viner-Usmanova.
According to her, first of all, such a decision is due to the fact that it is still unknown whether the tournament will take place at all, given the difficult epidemiological situation due to the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the national federation is unhappy with the requirements that the organizers put forward for the participants in the competition.
“The conditions put forward by the organizers are unacceptable for Russian athletes. You have to sit there for two weeks in isolation, which is impossible. Therefore, we did not apply for participation in the European Championship, ”TASS quotes Viner-Usmanova.
“I also want to note that the issue of holding this tournament will be decided only at the end of September. Yes, applications have been submitted, but an official decision will be made later. And if it does not exist, then how can we participate in it or not? " She added.
The final decision on the holding of the continental championship will be made by the UEG on 28 September. Moreover, the Russian specialist has already expressed doubt that the tournament will take place. Against this background, the Ukrainian authorities recently extended the quarantine in force in the country until October 31 in connection with the increase in cases of coronavirus, and also announced the temporary closure of borders for foreigners until the end of September.
At the same time, Viner-Usmanova did not answer the question about the further actions of the federation if a decision was made to hold the championship on time.
“Will the position of our federation change if at the end of September a decision is made that the European Championship will take place after all? This is the second question, but it is not serious to apply now. If we sent it, we would have to pay for the hotel. And this is a non-refundable amount, and I see no reason to risk money. Further, if we decided to perform in Kiev, then Russia does not have a direct connection with Ukraine. Airplanes do not fly, so we would have to get there by roundabout ways, ”Viner-Usmanova explained.
Initially, the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships were scheduled for May 21-24. However, at the end of March it became known that the tournament would be postponed until autumn. The same fate befell the stages of the World Cup, as well as the continental competitions in artistic gymnastics, which were to be held in Baku.
Although the European Championship is the next stage of the selection for the Summer Olympics, also postponed a year in advance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian fans should not be afraid because of the current situation. The national team has already secured participation in the games, earning two quotas in individual exercises and one in group exercises thanks to a successful performance at the 2018 and 2019 world champions, where Viner-Usmanova's wards won seven and eight gold medals, respectively.
Recall that at the main start of the four-year period, each country can be represented by no more than seven gymnasts (five in the group tournament and two in the individual). At the European Championships, athletes compete for ten quotas in individual and team disciplines, three more places in the individual standings are played out at the end of the World Cup. The remaining quotas are distributed by a special commission.
It should be added that in the light of the current situation, the upcoming European Championship, of course, may lose the bright performance of the traditional favorites of the tournament. At last year's continental championship, the Russian national team took first place in the team all-around, and in individual disciplines there was no equal to the Averin sisters. Dina won in exercises with a hoop and a ribbon, and Arina won with a club and a ball. In addition, domestic juniors did not leave any chances for their rivals.
As for the upcoming Olympics, domestic athletes will again have to prove the status of leaders in world rhythmic gymnastics, which they have not given to anyone for many years. So, since the 2000 Games in Sydney, they have never lost gold medals in either the individual or the group all-around.