FIG chief calls alleged abuse in China a 'delicate issue'

FIG chief calls alleged abuse in China a 'delicate issue'

Agnece France-Presse, Melbourne

The head of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said
Monday the alleged abuse of young Chinese gymnasts preparing for
the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a "very delicate issue".

In a report for BBC Radio aired last week, British Olympic
rowing great Matthew Pinsent described children in a Beijing
gymnasium being pushed through the pain barrier and said one
young boy had clearly been beaten by his coach.

"It was a pretty disturbing experience. I know it is
gymnastics and that sport has to start its athletes young but I
have to say I was really shocked by some of what was going on,"
said Pinsent.

FIG president Bruno Grandi said he was aware of the comments
but did not condemn the alleged abuse.

"It is one very delicate issue. We have many delicate
situations in gymnastics. It is a problem that is not possible
for me to give an answer to," he said on the eve of the World
Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Melbourne.

"It is not possible to know the exact situation. It is
impossible for me to accuse."

Grandi, however, said the accusations were one reason why he
was pushing hard to raise the minimum age limit for gymnasts
above the current 16.

"We need complete athletes, both physically and
psychologically," he said without elaborating on how raising the
minimum age requirements would address the concerns raised by
Pinsent.

In his report, Pinsent, a four-times Olympic gold medallist at
rowing and a former member of the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), said he felt the children he had seen were being pushed
beyond acceptable limits.

"I do think those kids are being abused. The relationship
between coach and child and parent and child is very different
here.

"But I think it goes beyond the pale. It goes beyond what is
normal behaviour. It was really chilling," said Pinsent, who
travelled to the Chinese capital in his capacity as a rookie
broadcaster.

"When I talked to the vice principals they said hitting was
against the law, but then there were parents who want you to do
it.

"They said this is what they needed to do to make them hard."

Pinsent said he still believed that the Olympics would have a
positive effect on Chinese society, but also admitted that is
experience in Beijing had led him to question that view.

The IOC has declined to comment on his report but has stressed
that physical abuse in sport is against all Olympic values.

Pinsent's comments come at a sensitive time for FIG which is
desperately trying to restore the sport's battered reputation and
win back fans following a series of judging scandals at the
Olympic Games in Athens last year.

The inconsistency and at times apparent bias of the judges was
heavily criticized by competitors and spectators alike.