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Russian gymnasts will not take part in the Olympic Games in Paris. The President of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation Vasily Titov, in an interview with Sport, spoke in detail about the reasons for this decision, about the current relationship with the international federation and Ukrainian colleagues, about possible provocations at the 2024 Games, as well as about the possibility of an Olympic truce in the North-West zone.
—I would like to start with the current state of affairs. What are the prospects for our return to world sports?
— The situation is really difficult. We understand perfectly well that in the current conditions there is very little chance of actually returning to world sports. And there is only one opportunity to do this — new international starts, which we will conduct ourselves. The idea of holding the BRICS Games and the Friendship Games is generally correct. It is necessary to attract athletes.
—The IOC and WADA are trying by all means to disrupt the BRICS Games and the Friendship Games. Including through anti-doping support. How to deal with this?
— We have to do our job. Provide doping control at an appropriate level. Invite those who are ready to come and work with them individually. There is no other way. The fears that we are creating some kind of alternative to the Olympic Games are completely groundless; this is not the case at all. Competitions for those who are interested in sports being outside of politics. Please note that everyone is welcome. Without any restrictions. And at the Olympic Games this year there will be a huge number of restrictions. That is, this is the best answer to the question of whether this story is politicized or not. We have no politics.
— At the same time, Russia is accused of being politicized.
— Well, of course, yes! Convenient, what? We are all to blame now.
— Don’t you have the feeling that by preventing these tournaments, international organizations are showing their fear?
— I would say not fear, but apprehension. We are a strong country, we have great influence. And they understand that the expansion of our influence will come at their expense. And we proceed from the understanding that we want to hold competitions free from any political influence. Therefore, we invited everyone and ensured the arrival of participants. We pay decent prize money. That is, this is something that any athlete can only dream of.
“It is impossible not to follow the IOC recommendations”
— Is there any contact with the International Gymnastics Federation now?
— Constant. I continue to be a member of the FIG executive committee and participate in all events. I have been invited to the Olympic Games as an FIG official and will be present throughout the entire Olympic Games program. We have elections this year, and I plan to run for the executive committee again. The task is extremely difficult, because we are, of course, highly toxic. And those who used to smile and hug with joy now turn their faces away. But I hope that it will help to understand that without Russia, world gymnastics is impossible.
— There is no feeling of resentment? After all, Russia’s participation in processes in world gymnastics was an example for all sports.
— Of course have. They themselves understand it in the same way, that this is a huge loss for gymnastics. The entertainment and quality of competitions, even world championships, are now fundamentally different. And everyone admits it. But, unfortunately, we have already gone down this road, and it is extremely difficult to turn off it for a number of reasons. And it is almost impossible not to comply with the recommendations of the IOC.
— The word “recommendations”, which look like an order, are not tired yet?
— Yes. We managed to remove something. Something is not. But questions related to the association with the state and the sports societies Dynamo and CSKA remained. And this is one of the most powerful obstacles. Now there is a lot of talk about why we are not going to Paris. Like, the trampoline players could do it, but we couldn’t. If we look at it objectively, then literally a few girls aged 15-16 can get neutral status here.
I'll go through the rest. Nikita Nagorny is the head of the Youth Army, sanctions from Canada and other countries. Zero chance. Dalaloyan and Alyazin are servicemen of the Russian Guard, with a contract. Marinov is a man serving in the Russian army. And this is the basis. There was no chance of getting neutral status. And the procedure is expensive, about three thousand Swiss francs for each person.
— That is, wasted money.
— Yes. And the rules of neutral status are used very widely there. As an example, I always cite the President of the Trampoline Federation, Nikolai Makarov. He was not cleared for three reasons. On the building in which they held the last Russian championship in Astrakhan, hung the inscription “For peace”, decorated with a St. George’s ribbon. The Federation rented only the hall, not the entire building, and this was part of the city decoration. They could not influence it in any way. At the same time, the hall itself was free from any propaganda.
Secondly, on the fourth day after the start of the SVO, he published a photo from a meeting with Lyudmila Saraeva, an employee of the Ministry of Sports, who regularly reports to the minister, who is under sanctions.
The third one is simply killer. In September 2021, Nikolay received the title of Honored Worker of Physical Culture. And they charged him with this too. Like, proof that he is fully associated with the state and supports a special military operation. In such conditions, how can one count on objectivity, impartiality and the ability to send at least someone there?
«The Ukrainians have collected a dossier on us»
— There was a lot of talk that the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation did not discuss with the athletes themselves the possibility of going to the Games.
— We have a principle of relationship. The coaching staff is responsible for the team. And it was they who were instructed to individually work with each of the guys on the issue of intentions to try to get neutral status and go to the Olympics. At the same time, we clearly understood who could really do this. But the main part of the national team cannot fulfill these requirements. What is there to talk about? One more thing. Our former Ukrainian partners sent the IOC and FIG a whole photo dossier for each member of our team. With photographs with ribbons from various events. They were very active in helping to make the decision to exclude us.
— But for some reason we do not see this in relation to, for example, Israel.
— No, this is not the case. There are certain actions when, for example, they were refused to host the European Championship. There were certain restrictions, but nothing even close to anti-Russian sanctions.
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— The same situation with tennis player Karen Khachanov and his congratulations on May 9, published on social networks. Now he may not be allowed to participate in the Olympic Games.
— These rules, which were developed by the IOC and international federations, allow for a very broad interpretation. I explained to them and drew attention to the fact that many provisions are very vague. They told me: “No, don’t worry, we understand that we will only take into account those where there is a direct association with military operations.” As a result, we got what we got with Makarov. And we would get the same thing with any of our athletes. Except for a few 15-year-old girls. And we should have thought very carefully before sending them to Paris. Send the girls without the support of the OCD and the federation. These are risks that I would not want to take on myself.
You can talk for a long time about “we would go,” “we would like to go,” “we need to go.” This is how people argue who do not know and do not try to think about the current state of affairs.
— What awaits those who nevertheless go to Paris?
— Great risks associated with the possibility of provocations. I do not exclude that they will be. I don’t doubt for a second that the Ukrainian side will not let this pass. At the same time, international federations completely refuse any support and protection of these athletes. The IOC takes on some responsibilities, but they are also not very clear. Therefore, the risks are great. I understand how important it is for an athlete to participate in the Olympic Games; this is the highest goal. But the argument that we could easily go is irresponsible.
When the mayor of Paris declares that Russian athletes will be allowed in France not happy, what else can I say? Is this French hospitality? Is this hospitality to those people who, despite all the restrictions, decided to go and try their luck in sports?
“The truce is a chance to pump up Ukraine with weapons»
— Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Russia for an Olympic truce. Don't you think this is nonsense?
— Seems. Then it is necessary for a truce to take place everywhere. And there are practically no opportunities to provide this. And now, in these conditions, a truce and any cessation of Russian actions there would mean one thing. A pause that will allow Ukraine to be pumped up with weapons, change the situation and stop the advance of Russian troops. This whole situation is permeated exclusively by opportunistic political considerations. There is nothing else here. They had a unique opportunity to stop Russia, which was gaining momentum in big-time sports. They believed that this would hurt national pride and athletes. History is truly sensitive.
— But in many ways it has only made Russia stronger.
— I think so too. We have united and become stronger.
— Recently, already confirmed accreditations were revoked even from volunteers from Russia.
“They don’t want to see us there.” All decisions always have a beneficiary. The decision related to restrictions against Russian gymnasts also has direct beneficiaries. There are countries that have never dreamed of being on the podium in their lives, but are now standing on it. Only because there is no Russia. These countries are unlikely to strive to return everything back. They will silently stand on the sidelines.
— And this is not only in gymnastics?
— Everywhere. Absolutely. Those who have now begun to win do not want to change anything. Why do they need competition.
— Recently, a scandal erupted over the doping case of Chinese swimmers. And USADA directly accused WADA of hiding information. Has the World Anti-Doping Agency finally discredited itself?
— WADA has turned into a cudgel. Through their actions, policies and deeds, they have become a tool in the hands of those who are trying to deal with the undesirable. With Russia, Belarus and others. Maximum biased approach. An attempt to use this tool for political purposes. Even in the situation with the Friendship Games, WADA was involved. Where is this good? The pressure is on everyone. For officials, for athletes, for laboratories. In order, on the one hand, not to let us into the Olympics, and on the other, to disrupt what we are doing outside the Olympic program.
«Therapeutic exceptions should be banned»
— At the same time, Chinese swimmers who passed positive doping tests for trimetazidine are allowed to participate in the Games, and Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, in a similar situation, is disqualified and deprived of gold.
— This is the same system of double standards. The Anti-Doping Code requires serious revision and improvement. There are a lot of holes there. If we talk about gymnastics, then the system of individual therapeutic exceptions is a terrible thing. This practice must be stopped. We understand everything. There are athletes who take drugs that suppress the feeling of fear. And this feeling is one of the main reasons for mistakes in the same exercise on the balance beam. And here you walk on a log as if on asphalt, without thinking at all. What to talk about?
— How are things going with athletes’ motivation?
— It’s difficult. Not even the guys, but the coaches. But we do a lot. The terms of financial rewards based on the results of the Russian Championship were changed, making them equal to the World Championship and the Olympic Games. We understand how important this is. But still, it’s difficult when there is no strictly structured scenario for the year. This is demotivating.
— Have you already managed to communicate with the new Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyarev?
— Yes, we had a meeting on May 21. We had a very good, friendly conversation. You know, he is quite deeply immersed in sports. I told him about what was happening here, about preparations for new starts. He now needs to take on his responsibilities. It was important for both us and him to meet. We had a frank conversation. The dialogue cannot be stopped, we have no time to build up.
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