Rodionenko says Russian gymnasts will never sign political declarations
The head coach of the Russian national gymnastics team, Valentina Rodionenko, spoke about the conditions for the team’s admission to international tournaments. Her words are quoted by TASS.
“Our athletes should not be required to sign political declarations, we will never agree to such a thing,” Rodionenko said. At the same time, she noted that she sees no point in giving an unambiguous assessment of the decision of the executive committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) until the organization develops clear criteria for admitting Russians to competitions.
Earlier, on July 19, FIG announced the admission of Russian gymnasts to international competitions in a neutral status from January 1, 2024. In order to compete in tournaments, athletes must submit an individual entry and be approved by the FIG.
On March 28, the International Olympic Committee recommended that Belarusians and Russians who did not support the special operation in Ukraine be allowed to compete in a neutral status. At the same time, athletes from Russia and Belarus associated with the armed forces or security agencies of their countries are recommended to be suspended from participation in the starts.
Source: Lenta
Kingston is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
