The politically motivated refusal by the Netherlands to grant visas to the leaders of the Russian artistic gymnastics team once again shows that big sport has nothing to do in Europe, the head of the Russian Ministry of Sport stated:

“Today the Europeans spat on the decisions of international organizations (IOC and World Gymnastics) and refused visas to the Russians, and tomorrow they will not let someone else in.”

Russia has always advocated and continues to advocate for equal access of all athletes to competitions under their own flag without any discrimination, Degtyarev added.

The World Championships in Rotterdam will take place from October 17 to 25. Angelina Melnikova, Victoria Listunova, and Anna Kalmykova did not receive visas. The Russian Olympic Committee will today appeal to the IOC and World Gymnastics with a demand to strip these competitions of their qualifying status.

@Zerkalo_NewZ