MOSCOW, Mar 9The President of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation (VFCG), Irina Viner-Usmanova, in an address to Russian athletes published on the organization's website, said that world sport has become an arena for political battles, and suspension decisions are contrary to all norms of international competitions. Previously, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG ) due to the aggravation of the situation in Ukraine, banned Russian and Belarusian athletes, as well as officials, including judges, from participating in competitions under the auspices of FIG starting from March 7. Various sports federations applied the same sanctions in other sports.
"Today we are all faced with unprecedented sanctions from the West. The sport of the highest achievements found itself in a blockade: Russian athletes were suspended from participating in international competitions for an indefinite period, and all major international sports tournaments planned in Russia were transferred to other countries. Once again, we saw that, unfortunately, in recent years, world sport has become an arena for political battles. The decisions made regarding Russian sports are contrary to all the norms of international competitions. Moreover, they are discriminatory, which, in my opinion, already goes beyond good and evil", — Viner-Usmanov is quoted by the WFCG website.
«Dear athletes, colleagues, Russia has always been and remains one of leaders of the international sports movement, your achievements on the world stage are inscribed in the annals of sports and are beyond doubt.Always and at all times you have shown strength of character, fortitude and the will to win.In this difficult time, we all need to unite, become even stronger and find new ways of international sports cooperation. We need to focus on the development of mass sports, the popularization of national tournaments, and the involvement of the younger generation in sports. I am convinced that together we will overcome the difficulties that have arisen and preserve the image of Russia as a sports power,» she added.