Karolyi summer camps not sanctioned

More bad press for Karolyis.

INDIANAPOLIS, June 6, 2012 – As part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to promote a safe environment for athletes, the Board of Directors of USA Gymnastics recently adopted further policy changes regarding athlete participation in USA Gymnastics-sanctioned events.

Effective August 2012, the beginning of the next membership cycle, only member clubs or registered businesses of USA Gymnastics may apply for membership on behalf of an athlete. In addition, only member clubs or registered businesses may enter a team of athletes in USA Gymnastics-sanctioned events. …

Pertinent USA Gymnastics links:

Code of Ethics
Standard of Care
Participant Welfare Policy
Permanently ineligible members list

USA Gymnastics adjusts athlete participation policies as part of its ongoing efforts to promote athlete welfare

Sounds good.

What’s been the reaction to that announcement?

… “I’d like to applaud USA Gymnastics for the recent amendments to the Athlete Participation Policies,” said Julie Whitman, a former U.S. junior national team gymnast who told the Register and USAG officials that she was physically abused by (Doug) Boger more than 20 years ago. …

… Katherine Starr, founder of Safe4Athletes, a national advocacy organization dedicated to child athlete welfare, wants USAG to take an even stronger position toward gymnastics clubs, camps and businesses. …

Those quotes come from an article posted by SCOTT M. REID on the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER – USA Gymnastics rule change will expand safeguards

Scott has been the most vocal critic in the mainstream media.

He points out a loophole in the new regs:

… The Orange County Register has learned that former U.S. Olympic coach Bela Karolyi and his wife Martha, the current U.S. women’s national team coordinator, continue to operate camps for young gymnasts that are not sanctioned by USAG, despite the national governing body’s efforts to encourage all gyms and coaches to become members and adhere to the safeguards. …

The Karolyi camps, Starr and others said, are a glaring example of how even with the new rule changes coaches and clubs can still operate outside USAG’s jurisdiction and safeguards. …

“These camps are not USA gymnastics sanctioned events as they are open to non-USA gym participants,” USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny told the Register. …

Martha Karolyi told the Register that the camps are not sanctioned because USAG rules do not require them to be registered with the organization.

But the camps’ non-sanctioned status and the Karolyis’ failure to register with USAG, former gymnasts and child sports advocates said, sets a poor and embarrassing example. …

That is embarrassing.