FIG chief calls alleged abuse in China a 'delicate issue'<\/p>\n
Agnece France-Presse, Melbourne<\/p>\n
The head of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said
\nMonday the alleged abuse of young Chinese gymnasts preparing for
\nthe 2008 Beijing Olympics was a \"very delicate issue\".<\/p>\n
In a report for BBC Radio aired last week, British Olympic
\nrowing great Matthew Pinsent described children in a Beijing
\ngymnasium being pushed through the pain barrier and said one
\nyoung boy had clearly been beaten by his coach.<\/p>\n
\"It was a pretty disturbing experience. I know it is
\ngymnastics and that sport has to start its athletes young but I
\nhave to say I was really shocked by some of what was going on,\"
\nsaid Pinsent.<\/p>\n
FIG president Bruno Grandi said he was aware of the comments
\nbut did not condemn the alleged abuse.<\/p>\n
\"It is one very delicate issue. We have many delicate
\nsituations in gymnastics. It is a problem that is not possible
\nfor me to give an answer to,\" he said on the eve of the World
\nArtistic Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\"It is not possible to know the exact situation. It is
\nimpossible for me to accuse.\"<\/p>\n
Grandi, however, said the accusations were one reason why he
\nwas pushing hard to raise the minimum age limit for gymnasts
\nabove the current 16.<\/p>\n
\"We need complete athletes, both physically and
\npsychologically,\" he said without elaborating on how raising the
\nminimum age requirements would address the concerns raised by
\nPinsent.<\/p>\n
In his report, Pinsent, a four-times Olympic gold medallist at
\nrowing and a former member of the International Olympic Committee
\n(IOC), said he felt the children he had seen were being pushed
\nbeyond acceptable limits.<\/p>\n
\"I do think those kids are being abused. The relationship
\nbetween coach and child and parent and child is very different
\nhere.<\/p>\n
\"But I think it goes beyond the pale. It goes beyond what is
\nnormal behaviour. It was really chilling,\" said Pinsent, who
\ntravelled to the Chinese capital in his capacity as a rookie
\nbroadcaster.<\/p>\n
\"When I talked to the vice principals they said hitting was
\nagainst the law, but then there were parents who want you to do
\nit.<\/p>\n
\"They said this is what they needed to do to make them hard.\"<\/p>\n
Pinsent said he still believed that the Olympics would have a
\npositive effect on Chinese society, but also admitted that is
\nexperience in Beijing had led him to question that view.<\/p>\n
The IOC has declined to comment on his report but has stressed
\nthat physical abuse in sport is against all Olympic values.<\/p>\n
Pinsent's comments come at a sensitive time for FIG which is
\ndesperately trying to restore the sport's battered reputation and
\nwin back fans following a series of judging scandals at the
\nOlympic Games in Athens last year.<\/p>\n
The inconsistency and at times apparent bias of the judges was
\nheavily criticized by competitors and spectators alike.<\/p>",
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