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Kremlin slams 'scandalous' ban on Russian symbols at gymnastics World Cup in Romania
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania /Sports

Kremlin slams 'scandalous' ban on Russian symbols at gymnastics World Cup in Romania

From Adevฤƒrul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Russia's Kremlin called the decision to ban Russian national symbols at a Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup event in Cluj-Napoca "scandalous" and "arbitrary."
  • Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian gymnasts have the right to compete under their national flag and anthem.
  • The Russian Gymnastics Federation withdrew from the event, citing "serious violations of competition rules," while the mayor of Cluj-Napoca affirmed that Russian symbols would not be permitted.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denounced the decision by organizers of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, to prohibit Russian gymnasts from competing under their national flag and anthem as "scandalous" and "arbitrary." The comments were reported by the TASS news agency.

This is a scandalous case

โ€” Dmitry PeskovThe Kremlin spokesperson describing the ban on Russian national symbols at the gymnastics event.

"This is a scandalous case," Peskov stated during a press conference. He asserted that the Russian federation's relations with the world federation have been fully restored, and Russian athletes are entitled to compete with their national symbols. Peskov characterized the ban as an "absolutely arbitrary decision" made by the municipal authorities of Cluj-Napoca.

Our relations with the world federation have been fully restored, and our gymnasts have the right to compete under the national flag and to the sound of the Russian anthem

โ€” Dmitry PeskovThe Kremlin spokesperson asserting the right of Russian athletes to use national symbols.

Earlier, the Russian Gymnastics Federation announced its withdrawal from the 2026 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Challenge Cup in Cluj-Napoca, citing "serious violations of competition rules by the organizers." The federation indicated it would seek strict adherence to the International Gymnastics Federation's decisions through all available international legal means.

We are talking here about an absolutely arbitrary decision made by the municipal authorities of this city

โ€” Dmitry PeskovThe Kremlin spokesperson criticizing the decision by Cluj-Napoca authorities.

Cluj-Napoca Mayor Emil Boc had previously confirmed that Russia's anthem would not be played, and its flag would not be used at the event held in the BT Arena. Boc clarified that while the International Gymnastics Federation recently changed its rules to allow national symbols, the city's stance remains firm. "It would be very clear and unequivocal. In the BT Arena hall in Cluj-Napoca, the anthem of Russia will not be played and the flag of Russia will not be used for the representation of athletes from this country," the mayor stated.

In the BT Arena hall in Cluj-Napoca, the anthem of Russia will not be played and the flag of Russia will not be used for the representation of athletes from this country

โ€” Emil BocThe mayor of Cluj-Napoca reaffirming the ban on Russian national symbols at the gymnastics event.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevฤƒrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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