Unexpected. The president of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), Morinari Watanabe (photo above), traveled to Ukraine at the very end of last week. According to information reported by the Ukrainian presidency website, the Japanese leader spoke with the head of the presidential office, Andriy Yermak, and the Minister of Sports, former fencer Vadym Guttsait, also president of the national Olympic committee. Morinari Watanabe's visit came just four days after the IOC Executive Board recommended reinstating Russian and Belarusian athletes. Gymnasts from both countries have been banned from international competitions since March 2022. “ They will remain so until further notice.", decided the FIG last month. Morinari Watanabe is a member of the IOC, where he notably directs the task force responsible for organizing the qualifications, then the boxing tournament, for the Paris 2024 Games in place of the IBA. The press release from the Ukrainian presidency specifies that he was formally asked, during his visit to Kiev, not to support the IOC's recommendation to reinstate Russian and Belarusian athletes.
