The Netherlands joins FIG Congress boycott

The most recent development in the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) boycott comes from the Netherlands. The Dutch Gymnastics Association President Monique Kempff informed FIG President Morinari Watanabe the Netherlands will not attend the FIG Congress in Istanbul, Turkey next month.

The Netherlands join Poland, Estonia, Norway, Ukraine, Lithuania and Italy in boycotting Congress all because Russian and Belarusian officials are still being allowed to attend.

“Our decision was prompted by the fact that Russian and Belarusian delegates still have the opportunity to register for the Congress,” Kempff wrote. “We support the position of European gymnastics, which has unanimously refused to communicate with the Russian and Belarusian gymnastics federations as the brutal, genocidal Russian war in Ukraine continues.”

Kempff went on to say, “As long as Russia continues this war, it is impossible to involve Russian athletes and officials in international sports. We hope that this war will end as soon as possible and that we can all be part of the Olympic Community in peace.”

The International Olympic Committee has recommended that Russian and Belarusian athletes not be allowed to compete internationally due to the invasion of Ukraine, but that recommendation has not extended to elected officials from the two nations allowing them to take place in congresses and general assemblies.

There are still 130 nations registered to attend FIG Congress, but it has not yet been made clear if the nations that have withdrawn were already registered or not. As Congress draws nearer, it would not be a surprise if more countries pulled out of participating.