The Gymnastics Palace opened 2019 is named for her. The roof imitates a gymnastics ribbon.
By A.Savin (WikiCommons)
You might have seen her name in the news. Husband Alisher Usmanov was once Russia’s richest oligarch. The European Union recently blacklisted Usmanov, imposing an EU-wide travel ban and freezing all his assets. Usmanov’s $600m superyacht was seized by the German government.
The Olympic Movement is united in its mission to contribute to peace through sport …
At the same time, the Olympic Movement is united in its sense of fairness not to punish athletes for the decisions of their government …
The current war in Ukraine, however, puts the Olympic Movement in a dilemma. While athletes from Russia and Belarus would be able to continue to participate in sports events, many athletes from Ukraine are prevented from doing so because of the attack on their country. …
… with a heavy heart, issued the following resolution:
… recommends that International Sports Federations and sports event organisers not invite or allow the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials in international competitions. …
… decision to withdraw the Olympic Order from all persons who currently have an important function in the government of the Russian Federation or other government-related high-ranking position, including the following:
Mr Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2001)
Mr Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (Gold, 2014)
Mr Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office (Gold, 2014)
… The IOC admires and supports in particular the calls for peace by Russian athletes.
While it’s a shame Russian athletes must suffer, IOC and FIG are right to take action against de facto dictators invading other nations.
The Russian and Belarussian national flags must not be displayed, and the Russian and Belarussian anthems must not be played at any FIG-sanctioned events until further notice.
All FIG-sanctioned events planned to take place in Russia and Belarus are removed from the FIG calendar and will no longer be recognised by the FIG. No other events taking place in Russia and Belarus will be sanctioned by the FIG until further notice.
“Our thoughts go to the members of the Gymnastics community in Ukraine. Sport is friendship and solidarity. We must show solidarity with the members of our family who are in despair and offer them a helping hand to ensure their future.”
The FIG will ask the FIG Foundation for Solidarity to allocate special aid to support Ukrainian athletes and other members of the Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation hit by the war.
Medallists can show support for Black Lives Matter and LGBT+
Protests subject to guidelines as hate gestures are forbidden
The 4,500 athletes expected in Birmingham this summer will also be permitted to wear clothing, armbands and badges on the podium to support social justice causes under radical new “guiding principles” for athlete advocacy due to be announced on Tuesday. …
I’d call this radical — but progress. Homosexuality is still illegal in 36 of the 72 nations that will compete in Birmingham, for example. That should change sooner than later.
Tommie Smith and John Carlos 1968 Olympics – protesting racial injustice in America
Gymnastics Coaching.com 