MOSCOW, January 28. /TASS/. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has welcomed the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) concerning allowing Russian athletes to participate in international competitions as neutrals, the FIG press service said on Saturday.
"I respect the policy that sport is independent of politics. It is our responsibility as the world governing body for gymnastics to protect the rights of athletes to be treated without any discrimination, in accordance with the Olympic Charter," FIG President Morinari Watanabe said.
"There are still many hurdles to overcome before allowing Russian and Belarusian gymnasts to compete in international competitions. But sport is about making the impossible possible," he said. "I believe that the friendship and solidarity within the Olympic movement will contribute to world peace."
Watanabe reiterated previously that sport should remain separate from politics. He also pointed out that the FIG should listen to the opinions of Russian and Belarusian federations despite the fact that athletes from those countries had been barred from international tournaments.
On January 25, the IOC recommended that Russian athletes who are not actively involved in supporting the special military operation be allowed to participate in competitions as neutrals, also after complying with some other requirements.
On February 28, 2022, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued recommendations to international sports federations to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from taking part in international tournaments, citing Moscow’s special military operation in Ukraine as the reason.
Following the IOC’s recommendations in late February, the majority of global sports federations decided to bar athletes from Russia and Belarus from all international sports tournaments.