European Gymnastics' decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as full teams in European competitions has dealt a significant blow to Ukrainian gymnastics, but the federation's vice president, Iryna Blokhina, sees it as just another example of "sportswashing" - a tactic where sports are used to divert attention from social or environmental problems.
This is not a new concern for Blokhina. In September, she warned that any participation by Russian gymnasts in international competitions would be threatened if it was seen as a way to legitimize the aggressor country. Now, with European Gymnastics' decision, Ukrainian gymnastics feels its efforts are being undermined.
The inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes is a clear example of sportswashing, according to Blokhina. "Any participation of Russian gymnasts in international competitions... is threatened by using such participation to demonstrate recognition of the aggressor country as a civilized world," she said.
This move has sparked controversy, with some arguing that neutrality is a myth in today's political climate. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently highlighted its "principled position" on non-discrimination and autonomy in international sports competitions. However, Blokhina believes that this stance is already being exploited by Russian media to downplay military action.
European Gymnastics' decision has also led to concerns about the legitimacy of sport's governing bodies. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) initially lifted its blanket ban to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as Authorized Individual Neutral (AIN) competitors, but European Gymnastics has now allowed them to compete as full teams.
For Ukrainian gymnastics, this decision is devastating, but not surprising. Blokhina argues that governing bodies must take specific steps to regain legitimacy. This includes clearly distinguishing between politically motivated discrimination and military aggression by one country against another.
Ultimately, the IOC and FIG need to draw a clear line in the sand. "We need to distinguish between legitimate sponsorship and Sportswashing," says Blokhina. A formal ban on sportwashing within the European Union is what the Ukrainian federation believes is necessary to crack down on external influences and financial flows.
Despite this setback, Ukrainian gymnastics is not giving up. Its athletes are using the disappointing verdicts as motivation to prove their strength, skill, and desire to win. They train amidst the devastation of war, fighting for their lives, survival, and the opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest stages.
"We needs the support of the sports community," pleads Blokhina.
This is not a new concern for Blokhina. In September, she warned that any participation by Russian gymnasts in international competitions would be threatened if it was seen as a way to legitimize the aggressor country. Now, with European Gymnastics' decision, Ukrainian gymnastics feels its efforts are being undermined.
The inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes is a clear example of sportswashing, according to Blokhina. "Any participation of Russian gymnasts in international competitions... is threatened by using such participation to demonstrate recognition of the aggressor country as a civilized world," she said.
This move has sparked controversy, with some arguing that neutrality is a myth in today's political climate. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently highlighted its "principled position" on non-discrimination and autonomy in international sports competitions. However, Blokhina believes that this stance is already being exploited by Russian media to downplay military action.
European Gymnastics' decision has also led to concerns about the legitimacy of sport's governing bodies. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) initially lifted its blanket ban to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete as Authorized Individual Neutral (AIN) competitors, but European Gymnastics has now allowed them to compete as full teams.
For Ukrainian gymnastics, this decision is devastating, but not surprising. Blokhina argues that governing bodies must take specific steps to regain legitimacy. This includes clearly distinguishing between politically motivated discrimination and military aggression by one country against another.
Ultimately, the IOC and FIG need to draw a clear line in the sand. "We need to distinguish between legitimate sponsorship and Sportswashing," says Blokhina. A formal ban on sportwashing within the European Union is what the Ukrainian federation believes is necessary to crack down on external influences and financial flows.
Despite this setback, Ukrainian gymnastics is not giving up. Its athletes are using the disappointing verdicts as motivation to prove their strength, skill, and desire to win. They train amidst the devastation of war, fighting for their lives, survival, and the opportunity to represent their country on the world's biggest stages.
"We needs the support of the sports community," pleads Blokhina.
this is just another example of how powerful countries are gonna use sports to save face 
while ordinary people like Ukrainians suffer 
i mean, can't they see that this is all about distracting us from what's really going on? it's not like ukraine isn't already dealing with enough trauma and loss from the war 
let them focus on their gymnastics instead of using it as a way to whitewash their actions 
we need more transparency, not less 
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european gymnastics is literally allowing russian & belarusian athletes 2 compete as full teams despite the whole war situation going on... it's like they're just ignoreing the drama 
i mean, blokhina's got a point tho - sportswashing is def a thing & its happenin here 
how can u separate politics from sports when its so obvious that russians are tryin 2 use their country's image 2 distract frm the real issues? 
anyway, Ukrainian gymnastics is still trainin hard & refusin 2 give up 
she's totally right about sportswashing being a thing in sports - like, we cant just ignore politics when it comes to international competitions... its all about finding that balance but atm it feels like europeans are being super diplomatic about russia & belarus invading ukraine 
anyway gymnastics is still my fave 
gotta support them in any way we can 
Russia and Belarus get a free pass while Ukraine suffers 
European Gymnastics should've drawn the line at neutrality 
️ Now they're enabling Russian gymnasts to compete like it's no big deal 
ukrainian gymnasts are suffering because of this decision, but it's also a symptom of a much larger problem that needs to be addressed 
it's hard to see them being undermined like this, especially when they're doing everything right 
the IOC and FIG need to take a stronger stance on this, like blokhina is saying, we need clear rules and no room for diplomacy with aggression 
like, they're literally undermining ukrainian athletes' efforts to compete fairly and it's all about distracting from the war in Ukraine... i think it's super sus that they'd enable russians and belarusians to compete as full teams when there's a clear aggressor country involved 
Iryna Blokhina makes a valid point about sportswashing, it's not right that sports are used to distract from serious issues 
The IOC and FIG need to do something to stop this kind of thing from happening again 
It's not just about the politics, it's about the PR stunt that's distracting from real issues. Like, what even is the point of all these competitions if we're just going to let one country's aggression slide? 
It's not like they're asking for much - just some basic human decency and respect for their struggles. 
, and I'm so proud of them for refusing to give up in the face of adversity! 
They deserve our support and solidarity, not this half-baked decision from European Gymnastics! 
to the ukrainian team tho for keepin on trainin and findin ways to compete despite everythin