GymCan CEO Ian Moss is out

Ian Moss is out as chief executive officer of Gymnastics Canada, a move that comes amid calls for leadership change at the embattled sports organization.

The governing body said in a release that it is moving forward with “substantive changes in leadership” after months of calls for Moss’s resignation from Gymnasts for Change Canada, an advocacy group made up of hundreds of former and current gymnasts. …

Gymnastics Canada’s move comes after the Jan. 27 release of a 277-page report by McLaren Global Sport Solutions …

Gymnastics Canada said it will work with Moss on ensuring a “smooth transition” toward bringing on a new CEO.

The organization is also looking for a new chair for its board of directors after Jeff Thomson resigned earlier this month and was replaced by vice-chair (Bernard) Petoit on an interim basis. …

CBC – Gymnastics Canada parts with CEO Ian Moss after months of calls for resignation

Russian Rhythmic not eligible for Paris … IMHO

Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation President Irina Viner has been videoed directing the rehearsal of a military parade for Putin’s big speech celebrating the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Tribuna also reports that Russia’s national rhythmic gymnastics team are expected to perform in the “celebratory concert”. …

Viner was married to Uzbek-born Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov for 30 years before their divorce in May last year.

Usmanov agreed to step aside as President of the International Fencing Federation following the European Union’s decision to impose economic sanctions on him over Russia’s military assault on Ukraine.

The 69-year-old businessman has also been sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom. …

Inside the Games

I ASSuME this means the RUS Rhythmic team will not be eligible for Olympic qualification under the stupid compromise idea recommended by the IOC.

Irina Viner is pictured with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2015 ©Getty Images

Trinity Thomas – Black History Month

At Trinity’s Gym growing up there weren’t many Black kids.

looming IOC PR disaster Paris

The International Olympic Committee floated the worst possible solution to a real dilemma. Allowing some RUS athletes to compete in the Paris Olympics — but not those who support Putin’s attack on Ukraine.

Allow them all. Or ban them all. Simple.

… the IOC knows it will have a PR disaster on its hands if it allows Russians en masse into the Games. …

Insiders suggest that the IOC will instead place multiple conditions on entry, including banning the Russian flag and anthem and requiring its athletes to wear all-white uniforms.

More significantly, anyone with links to the Russian military is also likely to be barred – which could result in 75% of their team and officials being declared ineligible. …

Guardian – So Mr Bach, will nothing ever be enough to ban Russia from the Olympics?

Putin has been bombing civilian targets including Bakhmut’s stadium which is used as a training facility for Ukraine’s Olympic athletes.

Fighting Illini for Mental Health

Team is dedicating the 2023 season to promoting mental health. Some problems can be helped by having some kind of support group.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

RUS Gymnastics invited to Asian Games

This event does not qualify anyone to the Paris Olympics.

Russia’s gymnastics and wrestling federations said on Tuesday they had been invited to take part in this year’s Asian Games …

Organisers of the Asian Games — scheduled to take place in Hangzhou, China, from Sep. 23 to Oct. 8 — did not immediately respond to a request for comment. …

reuters

I doubt any of the Asian nations will boycott in protest, but hope they do.

H Bars do break – metal fatigue

I still recall the day in the 1990s when my boss Keith Russell insisted we recycle the horizontal bar at University of Saskatchewan. Pay for a new one.

He felt they had to be replaced every 10 years in a Gym with many adult male gymnasts.

RUS Maxim Khodykin volunteers to fight in Ukraine

Russian gymnast Maxim Khodykin has travelled to fight in the country’s war on Ukraine, according to the national team doctor Sergei Gulevsky.

Khodykin has trained at the Russian gymnastics Olympic base – the Ozero Krugloye facility outside Moscow – although was not in the national team.

His last competition was at the Mikhail Voronin Cup in December, when he finished second in the men’s rings. …

Children’s Rights in Sport – Norway

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1990 does not include any direct reference to sports.

Norway is better, putting CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN SPORT into law in 2007.

1. SAFETY Children have the right to practice in an environment that is safe and secure, without any inappropriate pressure or exploitation. Children under 6 years should be accompanied by an adult to help avoid accidents and prevent injuries.

2. FRIENDSHIP AND ENJOYMENT Children have the right to participate in training and competitive activities which are designed to help develop friendship and solidarity amongst them.

3. COMPETENCY Children have the right to experience the feelings of competency and to learn a varied skill-set. They should also be given the opportunity to experience variation in their sports, training and interactions with others.

4. INFLUENCE Children have the right to express their own opinions and that their opinions should be considered. Children should have the opportunity to participate in planning sessions and can execute their own ideas in sports activities with their coaches and parents.

5. THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE Children have the right to choose which sport, or how many sports they wish to participate in. Children have the right to determine how much they wish to practise their sport.

6. COMPETITIONS FOR ALL Children have the right to choose whether they would like to participate in competitions, and should have equal opportunities to participate. Children transferring from one club to another in the same sporting discipline have the right to compete in competitive sports for the new sport club, as soon as the registration is completed.

7. ON THE CHILDREN’S TERMS Children have the right to participate in training and competition activities that are suitable to their age, physical development and maturation level.

Download the PDF free.

CAN Gymnastics Club sues documentary makers

Bell Media, TSN and a reporter are the defendants in a $500,000 lawsuit over allegations made in the documentary Broken: Inside the Toxic Culture of Canadian Gymnastics

A Crave TV documentary about gymnastics in Canada contained defamatory content about a Calgary club and its CEO, a $500,000 lawsuit claims.

The Calgary Gymnastics Centre (CGC) and chief executive Brett MacAuley allege the 90-minute documentary, co-produced by TSN and CTV’s W5, damages their reputation both directly and by linking them, through innuendo, to more abusive behaviour in the sport. …

Calgary Herald – Crave TV documentary defamed Calgary gymnastics club and its CEO, lawsuit claims

Full disclosure. I’ve known Brett MacAuley for decades. And have spent a lot of time at Calgary Gymnastics Centre. I’ve always considered it one of the best clubs in Canada and would recommend the Gym to parents.

I’ll be following this court case closely.