Marinov on meeting with Watanabe

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Russian gymnast Daniil Marinov said on Match TV that he felt the willingness of the President of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Morinari Watanabe to return Russian athletes to international competitions.

On Monday, Watanabe is in Novogorsk with members of the Russian national artistic and rhythmic gymnastics teams. The head of FIG is also a candidate for the post of President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

📅 We talked about the prospects for 2028, about the Olympics. What are the chances of Russia competing in them as its own country and power without any neutral flags. To which he replied that this will happen when everything calms down. It will happen without any problems. Unfortunately, there are no specifics.

⛔At the meeting with Watanabe, the conversation was about neutral statuses and how to obtain them, about refusals. Why, for example, was our star Vika Listunova refused. She was refused because of a photo from the May 9 parade.

❓ Was this the reason?

📋 Yes, when a refusal comes, the relevant documents come with it, which state why exactly you were refused. And she had this.

❓ In a conversation with Watanabe, was it possible to understand that the refusal to receive neutral status can be challenged?

💬It was clear that he does not do this. There are special commissions for this that confirm and refuse, - said 20-year-old Marinov on the air of the program "Loud" on the channel "Match TV".

❓ Did you feel that he is ready to return Russian athletes?

👉 Yes, I felt it. He even started the conversation by saying that we are all a big family, you are my sons and daughters, and I am your father, you can ask any question. Frankly speaking, he is a very sincere person. The head coach of the Russian national artistic gymnastics team, Andrei Fedorovich Rodionenko, has known him for a long time. Rodionenko spoke very highly of Watanabe, thanked him for coming to Russia. This is truly a great honor for us, - said 20-year-old Marinov on the air of the program "Gromko" on the channel "Match TV".

❓ Do you have a feeling that this ban is ending?

🤸 Yes, there is such a thing. It is felt, in principle, everywhere - both on social networks and in interviews, other questions begin. Perhaps, soon all this will end, and all athletes will be able to calmly perform without any neutral statuses.

❓ You all won in Russia. Did you think about how you would feel at international competitions. Will your knees not shake?

💪 I thought about this too. To be honest, I don’t know how I’ll behave, whether I’ll be nervous,” said 20-year-old Marinov on the air of the “Gromko” program on the Match TV channel