LAUSANNE – Russian and Belarusian gymnasts who are not involved in Russia’s war against Ukraine should be allowed to compete, the president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe said on Thursday.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended that Russians and Belarusians be allowed to return to international competition as neutrals since their ban last year in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Watanabe recently travelled to Ukraine to attend the funeral of rhythmic gymnastics coach Albina Deriugina and met Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and Sports Minister Vadym Gutzeit.
“I understand and support Ukraine’s position on the political side. But sport is independent of politics. Sport must seek peace even when governments and soldiers are at war,” Watanabe said in a statement published by FIG.
“(Ukraine) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky protects the Ukrainian people like family. I am protecting all gymnasts in the world like family.
“That’s why I support Ukrainian gymnasts and why I defend the right of Russian and Belarusian gymnasts who are not involved in the war to participate in competitions.
“I understand and respect President Zelensky’s position and I ask the Ukrainian government to understand my position as an international federation president in the same way.”
In December, Zelensky opposed the idea of Russian athletes taking part in the 2024 Paris Olympics under a neutral banner as “all their flags are stained in blood”.
Ukraine said on Friday its athletes will not be allowed to take part in qualifying events for next year’s Games if they have to compete against Russians, a decision the IOC criticised.
“Such a decision would hurt only the Ukrainian athlete community and the national sports federations, and in no way impact the war that the world wants to stop, and that the IOC has so vehemently condemned,” the IOC had said in a statement posted online.
However, Ukrainian artistic swimmer Vladyslava Aleksiiva, who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics said: “If the IOC allows Russia to take part in the Olympics, then these Games are not about peace any more.
“They were under the neutral flag in the last Olympic Games and it didn’t change anything – they started a war.”
FIG will discuss the IOC’s recommendations for a gradual return to international competition for Russians and Belarusians at its next executive committee meeting on May 12 and 13. REUTERS