Russia: Remove BILES And We Will Easily Beat Them!

[Doug1233]

Another interesting nugget:

"During the entire competition, the gymnasts, judges and coaches are absolutely prohibited from
using cellular phones and other electronic communication devices."

 

[KristyJ]

Also cue Simone Biles facetiming her family instead of using the branded advertisement, er, kiosk, to communicate with them. A real gymnast-centric rule.

 

[MRR]

A “minimum age” isn’t the same as “all 16 year olds must be able to compete”.

But the FIG didn’t write the rules entitling anyone to compete: a 16-year-old has to earn her place just like Oksana Chusovitina. The only restriction is for 15 and younger. And it’s absolutely inconsistent to apply one standard for all competitions in 2021 versus the Olympics, especially when your TR literally say the OG has the same minimum age requirement as any other senior competition.

The 2018 TRs just tagged on the 2017 version of the qualification system: irrelevant by 2020ne because the document assumed the Games would take place on time. The crux of the argument has always been simple: a 2004 athlete is as physically and emotionally ready to compete in 2020 as a 2005 gymnast in 2021, and an event can’t turn back the clock a year. “Protecting” already eligible senior athletes was never the point of the age rule, nor did it become the point just because the Games were delayed.

 

[Doug1233]

All of that is true, but you’re arguing the underlying intent of the rule, instead of the strict language of the rule itself.

I guess it depends on the rules of interpretation that CAS would implement.