Sports · Other Sports · 3 hrs ago
Three Russian gymnasts denied visas for world championships in Rotterdam
The Netherlands refused visas to Russian gymnasts Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova ahead of the world championships in Rotterdam.
Russia’s ambassador to the Netherlands accused Dutch authorities of trying to weaken the Russian team, while the Russian sports federation called the decision discriminatory.
The federation says the refusal notice cited concerns about international relations raised by one or more Schengen member states.
The championships run from October 17 to 25 and are the first team event in qualifying for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Russian officials plan to appeal to the International Olympic Committee and World Gymnastics over the denied visas.
Russia’s sports minister also said the Russian Olympic Committee would ask for the event to lose its Olympic qualifying status.
The Netherlands denied visas to Russian gymnasts Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova for the world championships in Rotterdam.
The Russian Gymnastics Federation said it would appeal to the International Olympic Committee and World Gymnastics.
Russian officials accused the Netherlands of politically motivated discrimination and said the decision could affect Olympic qualification.
The championships are scheduled for 17 to 25 October and are the first team qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The visa refusal notices reportedly said one or more Schengen member states considered the gymnasts a threat to their international relations.
- Who
- Russian gymnasts Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova were denied visas.
- What
- They were unable to attend the world artistic gymnastics championships. Russian officials condemned the decision and said they would appeal to international sports bodies.
- When
- The visa refusals were reported on 13 October 2026. The championships are scheduled for 17 to 25 October.
- Where
- Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
- Why
- The refusal notices reportedly cited a concern by one or more Schengen member states that the gymnasts posed a threat to their international relations.
Russian officials and the Russian Gymnastics Federation
Netherlands authorities
Characterisation of the decision
Russian officials and the Russian Gymnastics Federation
They said the visa refusals were politically motivated discrimination and an attempt to exclude leading gymnasts.
Netherlands authorities
They denied the visas; notices reportedly said one or more Schengen member states considered the gymnasts a threat to international relations.
Competition consequences
Russian officials and the Russian Gymnastics Federation
They said the refusals undermined equal conditions for Olympic qualification, and Russia’s sports minister called for the championships to lose their Olympic qualifying status.
Netherlands authorities
Not stated.
Visa uncertainty was already causing concern in the Russian team, according to Sportbox.
The Russian Gymnastics Federation reported that Melnikova, Listunova and Kalmykova had been denied Dutch visas.
The world artistic gymnastics championships are scheduled to take place in Rotterdam.
- Gymnasts denied visas
- Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova
- Championship venue
- Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Championship dates
- 17–25 October 2026
- Olympic qualification
- First team qualifying event for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
- Reported refusal reason
- One or more Schengen member states considered the gymnasts a threat to international relations
What people are saying
The actions of the Netherlands authorities are a targeted removal of the strongest gymnasts from the fight for the world championship medals and Olympic quotas. This is direct discrimination against Russian athletes and a gross violation of the principle of equal conditions for Olympic qualification.
A politically motivated refusal of visas to Russian gymnasts by the Netherlands once again shows that there is no place for big sport in Europe.
The refusal by the Dutch authorities to issue visas to leading Russian gymnasts to take part in the world championship is an attempt to weaken the Russian team.
Sources
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