Ukrainian official urges gymnastics federation to ban Russian athletes
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Andrie Yermak pushes Morinari Watanabe to ban Russian and Belarusian gymnasts from competing.
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Andriy Yermak greets Morinari Watanabe before their meeting in Ukraine, 2 April 2023 (Twitter)
Head of the Ukrainian President’s office Andrie Yermak urged the President of the International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stated on 28 March, recommending that international sports federations allow Russian athletes to compete as neutrals provided they denounce the Russian “War” on Ukraine.
In a statement, Yermak said that he, "held a meeting with International Gymnastics Federation President Morinari Watanabe… Called on Morinari Watanabe to support the initiative to ban the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes in the 2024 Olympics.”
Watanabe in turn, noted that he is a "friend of Ukraine and Ukrainian gymnastics."
Yermak further noted that 90% of Russian gymnastics representatives are members of the Russian army club – CSKA. This would prevent the athletes from participating in the games if IOC’s recommendations were implemented.
The IOC sanctioned Russian and Belarusian athletes a few days after the war began. The attack on the two countries included the censorship of chess players and athletes from a flurry of sporting federations.
Moreover, on Friday, Ukrainian Minister Oleh Nemchinov, a member of the executive committee of the National Olympic Committee, announced that the government decided to ban Ukrainian athletes from participating in qualifying competitions for the 2024 Summer Olympics alongside Russian athletes, per Sputnik.
