Degtyarev congratulated Russian gymnasts on regaining the right to perform with the flag and anthem.

The decision of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to allow Russian athletes to participate in international tournaments with the flag and anthem restored the integrity of all gymnastic sports and the Russian national team. Mikhail Degtyarev, head of the Russian Ministry of Sports and President of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC), told Izvestia on May 18, congratulating all types of gymnastic disciplines on restoring their integrity.

"The decision itself was discussed all weekend at the executive committee of world Gymnastics in Egypt and was made yesterday, published today. I congratulate the entire gymnastics world on restoring its integrity. As we say, the integrity of sport is what we expect from all international organizations. I congratulate our gymnastics federation, the entire Russian team, and the president of this organization, Oleg Belozerov. It was the unification of the federation and the intensification of international work that was the prologue to this decision for gymnasts," the head of the department noted.

Degtyarev recalled that a year and a half ago, the Gymnastics Federation united several sports — gymnastics, artistic, trampoline jumping, sports aerobics and acrobatics. At first, this solution was perceived as too innovative, but now everyone can see the result.

"There was a very difficult issue with the admission of our athletes in a neutral status. You will recall that there was a wide-ranging discussion on this topic. But it was the presence of our athletes at international competitions, albeit in a neutral status, that led to the fact that we proved that it was safe, that there was unity and friendship between athletes. And this helped, of course, in making the decision to return the flag. And now our guys will win with the anthem," the Sports minister said.

On the international track, this work is coordinated by the Olympic Committee on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation intends to return all Russian athletes to the international start, which is absolutely fair, Degtyarev pointed out, and what the realities of today require.

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Svetlana Khorkina, a two-time Olympic champion in uneven bars exercises, told Izvestia that lifting restrictions on Russian gymnasts and allowing them to use the Russian tricolor would spur athletes to new victories.

On May 18, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) allowed Russian athletes to participate in international tournaments with a flag and anthem. The solution applies to athletic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline jumping, athletic acrobatics, and athletic aerobics.

Anna Pavlova, a Russian and Azerbaijani gymnast, two-time Olympic bronze medalist and Honored Master of Sports of Russia, noted that allowing gymnasts from Russia to compete with the flag and anthem would have a positive impact on their performances. According to her, the restrictions impose a certain burden on athletes — the lack of full support from the audience and the not very good attitude of colleagues make it difficult to achieve high results.