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FILE PHOTO - A Russian flag flies on the grounds of the Russian embassy in the city center. Markus Lenhardt/dpa
Despite all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes being lifted by the World Gymnastics, they will only be allowed to compete under neutral status at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Frankfurt.
The agreement was made with the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB), the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), and World Gymnastics in collaboration with the German federal government.
The same will apply to the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Croatia, where the government decided to apply all measures relating to the non-use of Russian and Belarusian national flags, anthems, national symbols and national identifiers," according to European Gymnastics, the relevant governing body.
Under a neutral status, no national flags and anthems will be used during the medal ceremony if gymnasts from either country win a medal.
The decision is likely in line with the views of DTB president Alfons Hölzl. He stated in July that, in his view, it was "understandable that one would not want to allow the World Championships to be used as a platform for propaganda for Putin or Russia."
At the same time, he had spoken out in favour of the athletes in question participating, but "without any spectacle, without giving them a stage."
The Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships is on August 12-16 and the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships is on August 19-23.
The FIG lifted the sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes in May. They were first excluded after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and then allowed to complete as neutral athletes after a strict vetting process since 2024.
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