With 220 days to go before the Paris 2024 Games, Russian sports authorities are increasing their number of comments to suggest that the conditions of neutrality imposed by the IOC could lead to a refusal of participation by athletes. Latest: the president of the Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, Irina Viner. She explained it to the agency TASS : « We only got one spot to try to qualify for the Olympics. But in reality, why would we really need it? No flag, no anthem, no communication, no fans to support us... It would be a total shame if we went to Paris next year. The national rhythmic gymnastics team will certainly not participate. And we will never perform again without the Russian flag and anthem. » The point is settled. But Irina Viner knows it: the road to the Paris 2024 Games is already almost closed for Russian gymnasts. At the start of the month, the European Gymnastics Union (UEG) decided to go against the position of the international body (FIG). It has maintained the suspension of Russian athletes from its competitions, unlike the FIG, whose executive committee voted last July for their reinstatement.
