World Gymnastics lifts all restrictions on Belarusian athletes
May 18, Pozirk. World Gymanstics has lifted all restrictions on Belarusian and Russian athletes imposed in February 2022 after the launch of Russia’s war on Ukraine, with the support of authorities in Minsk.
The Executive Committee of World Gymnastics made this decision “with immediate effect” at its meeting in Egypt’s Sharm-El-Sheikh on May 16 and 17, the statement says.
The Belarusian Gymnastics Association commented on the decision in a Telegram post, linking it to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations issued earlier this month. The lifting of the ban reportedly applies to representatives of all gymnastics disciplines in all age groups.
On May 7, the IOC lifted recommendations to restrict the participation of Belarusian athletes, including teams, in competitions by international federations and international sports event organizers. Ukraine expressed protest and disappointment with the IOC decision, stressing that it contradicted the fundamental principles of justice, responsibility and Olympic values.
When Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine with the help of authorities in Minsk in February 2022, the IOC urged sports federations to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from all competitions. Later, it recommended that some of them could be allowed as neutral athletes under certain conditions, such as not supporting the war.
Eight EU sports ministers voice opposition to Belarusian athletes’ participation in European events
May 12, Pozirk. Eight European Union sports ministers at a meeting in Brussels have voiced opposition to participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus in European sports events, noting that this can create problems for security and public order, Polskie …
