The compromise (??) by the IOC makes no sense. It’s impossible to decide which athletes in Russia support Putin’s war and which do not.
Category: safety
Vitaly Marinitch suspended for alcohol problems
The French Gymnastics Federation (FFG) has suspended men’s gymnastics team coach Vitaly Marinitch, who is to leave his position due to having alcohol problems, 18 months before the Paris 2024 Olympics. …
It is not the first time Marinitch has been forced to quit in disgrace, having been asked to resign in 2016 from USA Gymnastics for groping the wife of national team member Steven Legendre on two occasions at a hotel bar in 2014. …
Inside the Games
Disagree with the IOC
I’m disgusted with Thomas Bach and his weak leadership.
As some feared, the International Olympic Committee made Putin a happy dictator.
They want to allow individual athletes with Russian or Belarusian passports to participate in Paris Olympic qualification.
They add that only those who have not acted against the peace mission of the IOC by actively supporting the war in Ukraine could compete.
How about Nikita Nagornyy, for example? Head of the Young Army Cadets National Movement. Nagornyy has been publicly supporting his country’s full scale invasion of Ukraine via social media.
TG Saar, a German gymnastics club, cut him from their Bundesliga team because of his support of Putin’s invasion.
Angelina Melnikova took part in a military march, posing with a Russian army veteran, holding a cardboard box marked with the letter Z, the militaristic symbol associated with supporters of the invasion of Ukraine.
What’s the plan IOC? Are you going to allow Melnikova and not Nagorny?
WHO is going to decide?
Clearly this compromise is going to blow up the face of the Olympic movement. Russians are going to compete, return home, then brag about their support of Putin’s war.
Look what happened in Australia when Tennis decided to allow Russian and Belarusian players. Pro-Russia supporters arrive with Putin and ‘Z’ banners
The press release mentions that Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was banned — while participation of “independent athletes” was allowed at the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992.
It carefully avoids including the fact that South Africa did not compete at Olympic Games from 1964 to 1988, as part of the boycott of apartheid. The South African National Olympic Committee (NOC) was expelled from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1970.
Banning South Africa helped speed the end of apartheid.
Banning Russia might help speed the end of innocent civilians being killed by Putin.
The IOC should ban Russia from Paris. Or allow all athletes to compete Paris as independents. One or the other.
Gymnastics Canada McLaren Report
As promised, McLaren Global Sport Solutions delivered in January.
I’m just starting to read the full report, but here’s a press release summary:
- “We heard it at every level of the sport: change is urgently needed in gymnastics”
- report provides GymCan with an implementation plan and structure for change
- 46 recommendations, each with supporting rationale
- also includes a Safe Sport Policy Review — a comprehensive analysis of GymCan’s current national Safe Sport policies and procedures, including reporting procedures, case management procedures, codes of conduct and educational requirements.
I was one of those interviewed by McLaren, recommending GymCan start with WAG and Rhythmic as those disciplines have had the most complaints — but implement new policies for all disciplines.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
It’s great to see NCAA teams celebrating the message of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
These are the best and brightest Americans. The best and brightest hopes for a future where all Americans actually have equal opportunity.
bad Dads at the Trampoline park
😀
Olivia Dunne asks fans to be respectful
We’re thrilled that a gymnast has the #1 estimated NIL valuation of more than $2.5 million.
But that does attract the fan(atics).
Some at the LSU v Utah meet must have been disappointed Livvy wasn’t in the lineup. And some were a distraction.
Certainly LSU is going to have to improve security at the events she attends.
IOC on Russia & Belarus
Christine Still & Brett Ince
Alice Kinsella GBR, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion in Team and on Floor, took the time to thank her coaches online.
Much appreciated.
