By Riffat Kausar
Scandinavian News Agency
Russian gymnasts denied visas by the Netherlands will miss the World Championships in Rotterdam, according to the Russian Gymnastics Federation. The federation says Olympic champions Angelina Melnikova and Viktoria Listunova, along with Anna Kalmykova, were refused entry.
The championships run from October 17 to 25 and serve as a qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. These claims come from the federation and have not been independently verified. No Dutch statement was included in the report.
What the Federation Says About the Visa Refusals
A visa is an official permit that allows a foreign national to enter a country for a set purpose. The federation says the Netherlands refused it to all three athletes, which means they cannot travel to compete.
The federation called the decision “discrimination” and “a gross violation of the principle of equal conditions in Olympic qualification.” Those words are the federation’s own and reflect its view of the case. The report does not say when the visas were requested or what reason, if any, the Dutch side gave.
Why the Rotterdam Worlds Matter
A qualifying event is a competition where results help athletes or teams earn places at a later Games. According to the report, this championship is one such event for Los Angeles 2028. Missing it could limit the chances of the gymnasts concerned, though the report does not explain how many places are at stake or how Russian athletes qualify.
Melnikova and Listunova are described as Olympic champions, a status that makes their absence notable. The report gives no details of their medals or past results, and it does not say whether other Russian athletes are entering the event.
Russia’s Planned Response
The Russian federation says it will complain to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and to World Gymnastics, the sport’s international governing body. A complaint of this kind asks those bodies to review the decision and consider whether competition rules were followed.
The report does not say whether either body has received a complaint or whether they can overrule a national government’s visa decision. Visa rules are normally set by the host country, while sports bodies set the conditions for competition. That difference may shape how any complaint is handled.
The Dutch Position and Wider Debate
No comment from the Dutch government or the event organisers was included. A fair account needs their explanation for the refusals, and that remains missing.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, many international federations have limited or conditioned the participation of Russian athletes, and countries have taken their own positions on entry. That is general background, not part of the report, and should be checked against official sources. Supporters of such limits argue they respond to the war. Critics, including Russian officials, say they punish athletes for their government’s actions.
Key Facts
- The Netherlands has reportedly refused visas to Russian gymnasts Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova
- The World Championships in Rotterdam run from October 17 to 25
- The event is a qualifier for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
- The Russian federation calls the decision discrimination and plans to complain to the IOC and World Gymnastics
- The claims are unverified and no Dutch comment was included
- Russian Gymnasts
FAQs:
Who was refused visas?
Angelina Melnikova, Viktoria Listunova and Anna Kalmykova, according to the Russian Gymnastics Federation.
When are the World Championships?
October 17 to 25 in Rotterdam.
Why do they matter?
They are a qualifying event for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
How has Russia responded?
The federation calls it discrimination and plans to complain to the IOC and World Gymnastics.
Has the Netherlands commented?
No Dutch statement was included in the report.
What Remains Unclear
It is not clear whether the gymnasts will appeal, whether the IOC or World Gymnastics will intervene, or whether the decision applies to other Russian sportspeople.
Readers should look for statements from the Dutch government, the organisers, the IOC and World Gymnastics. This story will be updated when verified details emerge.
Read more about Russian Gymnasts and the visa denials affecting their participation in the Rotterdam World Gymnastics Championships.
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