I understand the emotion. For example, how could Nagorny (a Russian World and Olympic champion) compete alongside Ukrainian rivals when he has openly endorsed the war, and even encouraged his Russian team mates to join up and take part in the military action?
In this video FIG President Watanabe is welcomed to Round Lake, Russia’s national training centre for gymnastics, by Russian head coach Andrei Rodionenko and the aforementioned Nikita Nagorny. Rodionenko is a long-serving member of the international gymnastics community. He has been head coach of Soviet, Australian, Canadian and, now, the Russian teams.
Watanabe is campaigning for votes in his quest to be voted IOC President. That’s like the Prime Minister of the UK putting himself forward as Head of NATO - it’s a big step. Also standing for the IOC role, amongst others, is former British athlete Sebastian Coe. He would support a return of Russia to international sport if a peace deal in Ukraine is struck.
The FIG has recently welcomed nine Russian gymnasts back into the international fold, as individual neutral athletes. No doubt this will win Watanabe friends as he prepares for the final vote in the IOC Presidential elections at their meeting later this month (18th to 21st March 2025).
I’ll be pleased to see the gymnasts back in the international arena, but Watanabe is playing a dodgy political hand here, considering the state of world politics.