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'We will only compete under the Russian flag'

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As background, it is possible that the Russian gymnastics team may be affected by an IOC ban of all Russian sports, because of evidence of state-sponsored doping.  But gymnastics, along with ten other sports, is not mentioned in the McLaren Report into this evidence.  Gymnastics' governing body, the FIG, has made public that it has clean tests for all of the gymnasts.  It is hoped that the IOC will take a decision to allow clean sports to participate in the Games.  It has been mooted that this might be under a neutral, Olympic flag.  Since the CAS ruling this morning that the blanket ban imposed by the IAAF on Russian athletics is lawful, it is considered less likely that exemptions to the ban will be policed on an individual athlete basis.

TASS has published some brief statements about this -
 
- For me it is crucial to act under the Russian flag. I was born here and I will defend it, - said the captain of the men's gymnastics team Nikolai Kuksenkov
 
- We can't really talk about this, but we will be very upset if the wrong decision is taken.  At the same time, we are optimistic and believe that good sense will prevail in the IOC.  But it will be hard for us to compete under another flag, we do not want to compete under the IOC flag, said the coach.
 
- We need to close our eyes to these things and just do our job.  Despite all the difficulties, we need to overcome it and we will be rewarded. We will only compete for Russia, - said Aliya Mustafina, captain of the women's team artistic gymnastics.
 
Source: tass.ru/sport/3474804

In another TASS interview, Aliya has said - 

The hype around the team will not affect my mood because I have not read the news.  My main goal is to help the team.  I have not looked at the internet.  I have a goal simply to fight to the end, if we are finally allowed to be there.  If not - I will be very upset, but I still need to work to the final moment..

http://tass.ru/sport/3475083



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  1. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 14:50

    Aliya interview from today http://tass.ru/sport/3475083

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 14:57

    Hail Aliya, a pro more than any of the jar-heads involved in this drama. Honestly, she should handle the PR and Communication of the Russian Gymnastics Teams (MAG and WAG), kudos Queen Aliya.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 15:13

    Dear Aliya, it is said that Greats come once every 100 years. I think hundred years being turned today! All the best.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 15:42

    Photos from today's press Day at Round Lake here http://www.tassphoto.com/ru/feature/196302/---------/page/1/SN/NW_SPORTS P.S. seeing Mustafina working together with Ganina on some of it , this give me life!http://tassphoto.com/zooms_web/00000007829/16644198.bro Btw Aliya face in some pictures tells it all without words tbh! http://tassphoto.com/zooms_web/00000007829/16643761.bro

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 17:50

    I don't think that IOC or Bach would really ban the whole Russia gymnastic team. Because if that really happens, gymnastic would be really boring!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 18:44

    Another big photo gallery from today media day at Round Lake http://visualrian.ru/ru/site/feature/527759/ http://visualrian.ru/ru/site/search/?q=%D0%92%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%20%D0%90%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BF%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87&field=author

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 19:33

    Was Nikolai Kuksenkov really born in Russia? I assumed he was born in Ukraine of Russian ethnicity. Well, since he says so, it must be so.

    If Russia is completely banned, it would be a huge blow to the gymnasts. It appears they will refuse to compete under a neutral flag. That means there will be no Russian gymnasts in Rio. It would be a shame (to put it mildly).

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 19:35

    Todays big and cool interview with Aliya Mustafina from Elena Vaytsekhovskaya.About Rio, life after gymnastics, pain and many other things, Aliya is fantastic in it! http://www.sport-express.ru/olympics/rio2016/artistic-gymnastics/reviews/aliya-mustafina-ushi-dlya-gimnasta-eto-menshee-zlo-1024089/

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous21 July 2016 at 21:32

    Photoset from today trainings at Round Lake on RGF official page http://sportgymrus.ru/photos/press-tur-v-trenirovochny-j-tsentr-sborny-h-komand-rossii-ozero-krugloe-21-07-2016-foto-e-mihajlovoj/

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous22 July 2016 at 11:49

    Another interview with wisdom words from Aliya Mustafina about all these shithsow which happens now in IOC, where not clean sport , but politics play the main role and about lost generation in Russian gymnastics if IOC will ban whole Russian team in all sports...http://rsport.ru/rio2016_analytics/20160722/994326394.html

    ReplyDelete

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