The new requirements of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) for the admission of Russian and Belarusian athletes to international competitions were assessed by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova. She criticized them on the Telegram social network.
According to her, domestic gymnasts were ordered to perform in a uniform of completely neutral colors, plain blue or white, which must be agreed upon with the International Federation.
“This is segregation and hatred of Russians,” Zakharova said, noting that the demands are discriminatory and have no justification. According to her, this is unacceptable in world sports. “This is a blow to the global sports movement and world Olympism,” Zakharova added.
She also addressed Russian gymnasts. “They wanted to hurt you more, they wanted to deprive you of the flag, thereby humiliating you. I don’t know how it happened, but they achieved the opposite effect. They wanted to take away our flag. What is he like? This is the tricolor. Look: blue is your uniform, your swimsuits, white is your balls, ribbons, hoops. You say there’s not enough red? They just didn’t know that in our country red is beautiful. And you are all beautiful,” Zakharova wrote on the social network.
Let us recall that the FIG previously introduced rules according to which Russian gymnasts must submit individual applications for participation in competitions and must not support Russian military actions.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
