Russia threatens to strip Romania of hosting rights after Cluj-Napoca mayor bans national symbols at rhythmic gymnastics World Cup

Withdrawal and mayor's decision

The Russian rhythmic gymnastics team pulled out of the World Challenge Cup in Cluj-Napoca on 26 June after being told verbally that its national anthem and flag would be prohibited. The competition, which runs from 26 to 28 June at the city-owned BTarena, was organised by the International Gymnastics Federation (World Gymnastics). Mayor Emil Boc had announced two days earlier that the Russian symbols would not be permitted, invoking Romania and the EU's stance against a state he described as an 'aggressor' over the war in Ukraine. The mayor stated he had agreed to host the event when Russian athletes were still under sanctions and competed only as neutrals, and that the decision was 'not an attack on athletes', but against the use of political symbols of an aggressor state.

Russian response and threats

Moscow reacted sharply. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the move 'a scandalous case' and 'an absolutely arbitrary decision taken by the municipal authorities of this city'. Russian Sports Minister and Olympic Committee President Mikhail Degtyarev accused European countries of trying to violate the Olympic Charter and the World Gymnastics charter, and pledged to 'do everything possible' to ensure Romania is stripped of the right to host international gymnastics competitions and 'all other global sports tournaments'. It should be 'a lesson for this country and its little local leaders', Degtyarev said.

The Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation said the ban was a direct violation of the May 2026 decision by the World Gymnastics Executive Committee that restored Russian athletes' full rights to compete under their national flag and anthem. Spokesman Linar Ginatullin confirmed the team will use all available international legal mechanisms. The Russian Olympic Committee reported the incident to the International Olympic Committee, calling it a 'flagrant violation of the Olympic Charter and the principle of political neutrality in sport'.

Domestic criticism and federation concerns

Former Romanian sports minister Eduard Novak criticised the authorities' stance, warning that refusing eligible athletes could create 'a negative precedent for Romanian sport internationally' and damage the country's credibility as a competition host. Irina Deleanu, president of the Romanian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation, said the federation was 'caught between a rock and a hard place', that the decision could risk sanctions against it, including the loss of the 2027 World Championship, and stressed that the athletes are 'children' and sport should remain separate from politics.

“We are too small to fight two giants. I hope it doesn't go that far.”

“If Romania, as the organiser, refuses the participation of eligible athletes according to international regulations, this can be interpreted as a breach of obligations toward international federations and could affect our credibility as a host of major competitions.”

Background of the sanctions reversal

World Gymnastics had imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes using national symbols after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, requiring them to compete as neutrals. On 18 May 2026 the federation lifted that embargo, allowing gymnasts from the two countries to compete under their own flag and anthem. The decision sparked protests from the Ukrainian community in Cluj. Most other sports federations have retained their post-2022 sanctions against Russia.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that Romania is deprived of the right to host international gymnastics competitions and, moreover, all other global sports tournaments. It should be a lesson for this country and its little local leaders.”