Wiener considered it a disgrace that athletes took part in competitions without the flag and anthem of Russia

President of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics and head coach of the national team Irina Viner called the participation of athletes in international competitions in a neutral status a disgrace. According to her, the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team will not go to these competitions.

“Why is it needed? Without a flag, without an anthem, without communication, without fans, in a special uniform, to special music that would be selected for rhythmic gymnastics,” said Irina Viner TASS. “It would be a shame if we went there. I believe that this will be very humiliating for Russia. But Russian rhythmic gymnastics will definitely not go there, and we will never again perform without the flag and anthem of Russia,” she added.

At the 2020 Olympics and the 2021 World Championships, Russian gymnasts performed without the flag and national anthem. In July of this year, the Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation admitted Russian and Belarusian athletes before competitions under their auspices in a neutral status. However, on December 1, the General Assembly of European Gymnastics voted against the participation of Russian athletes. Thus, they were not allowed to participate in the qualifying competitions for the 2024 Olympics.

December 8 International Olympic Committee decided allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. They will be able to participate in a neutral status and only in individual competitions, taking into account the ban on any national symbols. Russian Olympic Committee warnedwhich stopped funding neutral athletes.

Read more about the situation in the Kommersant article. “The Olympic Assembly remained calm”.

Lusine Balasyan