Poland and Estonia are the most recent nations to join FIG Congress boycott

Last week, Ukraine and Norway boycotted the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) Congress set to take place November 11 and 12 in Istanbul, Turkey and this week, Poland and Estonia have joined the boycott alongside them.

Polish Gymnastics Association (PZG) secretary general Piotr Dec wrote a letter confirming the withdrawal and said participation in the Congress will be “inconsistent with the position of the Polish Ministry of Sport and Tourism.”

Dec continued in his letter to say, “Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of choice against Ukraine, facilitated by the Belarusian government, is abhorrent and a flagrant breach of its international obligations. Respect for human rights and peaceful relations between nations form the foundation of international sport.”

The Estonian Gymnastics Federation (EGF) has also decided to not participate. EGF President Peeter Tishler said he supports Norway’s position “regarding participation of aggressor states in international sports movement. That’s why I, as the president of the Estonian Gymnastics Federation, can’t participate in the FIG congress in Turkey 2022,” Tishler said.

While the FIG initially allowed athletes to compete as impartial competitors, it has since banned all Russian and Belarussian athletes from competition. The Ukrainian Gymnastics Federation (UGF), the Norwegian Gymnastics Federation, PZG and EGF are all calling for the ban on Russian and Belarussian officials from attending Congress.

The federations’ thought process is that if there is a ban on athletes, why is there not a ban on the officials, as well? In addition, the four federations seem to feel that by allowing the officials to take part in the FIG Congress, the FIG is supporting the war efforts by Russia in Ukraine.

With a one year punishment for Russian gymnast Ivan Kuliak and his public support of the military movement, there is a lot of questioning as to why the Russian Olympic Committee has not been banned from any international meetings considering their president’s support of Putin’s operation.

FIG President Morinari Watanabe has claimed Russian and Belarusian officials hold a “neutral position” and as elected members of an international organization, officials from every nation should hold a position not related to the politics of the nation in which they are representing.

While there are numerous nations involved in GIF Congress, it appears as though there are currently enough to carry on the meeting in person in Turkey in November, but time will tell if that still remains. With four nations withdrawing, there is a real possibility that more will follow in the coming weeks.