World Championships Incomplete Without Top Russian Gymnasts

Vladimir Tarabrin said Dutch officials have only discredited themselves and put the competition organizers in a difficult position

The Hague, October 13. /TASS/. Russia's ambassador to the country, Vladimir Tarabrin, said the upcoming World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Rotterdam could hardly be considered a true international tournament without top Russian athletes who have not received visas to enter the Netherlands.

He told TASS: "It is difficult to talk about a complete world championship without the participation of top athletes. Spectators are deprived of the opportunity to enjoy the performance of well-known masters, and gymnasts of other countries are deprived of the chance to compete with the real leaders of world sports."

The Russian diplomat said that the Dutch authorities only discredited themselves and put the race organizers in a difficult position.

Earlier, the press service of the Russian Gymnastics Federation reported that the Dutch embassy refused to issue visas to Olympic champions Angelina Melnikova and Victoria Listonova, as well as Anna Kalmykova, calling it a "threat to international relations".

The Artistic Gymnastics World Championships will be held in Rotterdam from October 17 to 25 and will serve as the first team selection stage for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.