"They are playing for time, but it is not clear why": FIG postponed the decision on the admission of Russian gymnasts to international tournaments until July

The Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) at a regular meeting upheld the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from foreign competitions, despite the latest recommendations of the International Olympic Committee.

Recall that in accordance with them, international federations are invited to allow representatives of both countries to compete in a neutral status. At the same time, it is recommended to "sift through" potential participants, not allowing military personnel and supporters of the NWO in Ukraine to participate in tournaments.

According to media reports, the FIG considered these formulations too vague and decided to wait for more specific criteria from the IOC.

"Following a new assessment of the situation with Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials, the FIG Executive Committee considers that the measures already taken on March 1-2, 2023 and based on Article 13.3 of the FIG Statutes remain in full force and effect without any further changes. The FIG will constantly monitor the overall situation and may revise these measures depending on the development of circumstances, "RIA Novosti quoted the organization's press service as saying.

The next meeting of the executive committee, at which officials can return to the consideration of this issue, will be held in July. However, regardless of the decision that can be made on it, the national team in artistic gymnastics will miss the September World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.

"In any case, we will not get to the World Championships in 2023, because you can only get there through selection at the European Championships, and we have already missed it," explained Vasily Titov, President of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation, who takes part in a meeting of the FIG Executive Committee in Antalya, Turkey.

A similar situation is developing with the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup, which will be held in August in Valencia. The issue of qualification for the Olympics in Paris stands apart here. The main part of the nominal quotas for them is played just at the world championships, that is, skipping the tournament significantly reduces the chances of going to the Games.

If they are allowed to perform in July, Russian artists will have only one chance to jump on the bandwagon of the departing train - the 2024 European Championships. But the tournament will certainly need to be won both in the individual all-around and in group exercises.

Artistic gymnasts also have a theoretical opportunity to qualify for the Olympics: at the World Cup stages next year, six tickets will be played - three each for men and girls.

At the same time, as the head coach of the national team Valentina Rodionenko admitted, on the eve of the meeting of the executive committee, the team had a glimmer of hope that the federation would allow athletes in a neutral status, as some other organizations do. For example, Russian judokas and boxers take part in world championships these days.

"The athletes are very disappointed that the suspension has been extended. But they still train and prepare for international competitions, we continue to follow training plans, although many do not have enough incentives. But you need to somehow turn yourself around and continue to make complex elements and combinations. It hurts a lot. But now we do not expect anything good from July. It's just talk, people are playing for time, but it's not clear why," Rodionenko was quoted as saying by TASS.

The head of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics, Irina Viner, called the FIG's decision expected, and also again suggested not to dwell on the Olympics, but to create her own alternative.

"Of course, we have to fight. Go ahead. The most important rival of the athlete is himself. We must follow the path that we can pave. "Faster, higher, stronger" - this Olympic motto has already disappeared. He's gone now. In the absence of the strongest, it does not exist. If there is no motto, there is no Olympics," the specialist said, speaking at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

In turn, two-time Olympic champion Svetlana Khorkina expressed confidence that someday Russian teams will return to the world stage, but until this happens, it is worth focusing on the development of sports in the country. At the same time, in her opinion, it is impossible to agree to the conditions put forward by international instances.

"I read about the fencers, what they submitted (applications. - RT) for 24 athletes, and 11 were approved, the main ones - Velikaya, Yegoryan, Pozdnyakova - were dismissed. Unacceptable conditions. Let's raise our competitions to the level at which they were during the Soviet era. Who is not interested - let them not engage in professional sports, do physical education, "RIA Novosti quoted the former gymnast as saying.