The Executive Committee of the International Gymnastics Federation (World Gymnastics) has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to perform under the national flags and anthem. The decision was taken at a meeting of the executive committee of the organisation in Egypt.
The decision applies to artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, trampolining, acrobatics and aerobics, reported the press service of the Russian Gymnastics Federation.
Federation President Oleg Belozerov noted that with its decision the International Gymnastics Federation “fully restored the rights” of Russian gymnasts, who had been under sanctions since the spring of 2022 after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The acrobatic gymnasts will reportedly be the first to perform under the Russian flag and singing the national anthem at the World Cup stages in Bulgaria and Azerbaijan at the end of May and in June.
The European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships are also due to take place in Varna, Bulgaria, at the end of May, in which the Russian side will be represented mainly by pupils of Alina Kabaeva’s Heavenly Grace Academy, the Agencia newspaper reported. This tournament is held under the auspices of the European Gymnastics Union, Russian gymnasts will perform under a neutral flag.
Earlier, the International Federation of water sports World Aquatics allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to perform under the flags and with the anthems of their countries. Such a decision was opposed by the Ukrainian athletes. The Ukrainian water polo team refused to play against the Russian team at the World Cup in Malta in mid-April, receiving a technical defeat.
The International Olympic Committee previously recommended sports federations to lift restrictions for Belarusian athletes, but leave them in place for Russian athletes. The federations of volleyball, boxing, modern pentathlon allowed Belarusian athletes without restrictions, while the federation of athletics left the restrictions in force. Some federations softened or cancelled restrictions for Russian athletes. This causes protests from sports federations in Ukraine and some other countries.