Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announces that he will not attend the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Paris, following the „scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonorable manner.” Additionally, he promises rewards to the athletes as if they had won Olympic medals.
„To withdraw a medal obtained through honest work based on a challenge that neither coaches nor top technicians understand is totally unacceptable!
It is inadmissible that in a competition of such magnitude, which promotes values such as respect, understanding, and excellence, a child who had honestly earned her medal should be brutally deprived of the result of her four years of work! I could not bear to see her tears and accept calmly that such a thing is perfectly normal!" stated Marcel Ciolacu on Tuesday in a Facebook post.
According to the Romanian Prime Minister, the fact that "hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide were, like us Romanians, effectively shocked by this terrible scene shows that somewhere in the organization system of this competition something is wrong."
"I remember very well how, in communism, the Russians would steal us at the Olympics, and we would try to argue with them without much chance of winning. I don't want to argue with anyone today, but only choose to protest through my gesture against a blatant injustice towards Romanian women who have fully proven their worth!" Ciolacu asserted.
He conveyed a message to gymnasts Sabrina Voinea and Ana Maria Bărbosu.
"Sabrina and Ana Maria, you have a whole nation by your side for whom your work and tears are more valuable than any medal, regardless of the precious metal it may be!
And I assure you that the Romanian state will treat you, including in terms of rewards, as Olympic medalists. Because that's what you are to all of us!" Ciolacu concluded.
Romania ended its participation in the artistic gymnastics competitions at the Olympics on Monday without a medal. In the floor final, Sabrina Maneca Voinea finished in 5th place, and Ana Maria Bărbosu in 4th place, with the same score - 13.700. Bărbosu was briefly awarded the bronze medal, but a challenge to Jordan Chiles' score (USA) brought her to 3rd place.