RGF Clarifications
Original articles were published on Dec. 17 in Ziua and Cotidianul, respectively.
RGF President Nicolae Vieru said reporters told him about the Japanese Gymnastics Federation’s intention not to invite any Romanian gymnasts to their junior competition in Yokohama. The Romanian official seemed somewhat reserved towards the news. “A couple of things don’t add up. First of all, a few weeks ago, when the magazine with nude pictures had been on the market for a while, Octavian Belu was in Japan for the Chunichi Cup, a competition dominated by Oana Petrovschi and when he got back, no one knew anything about a ban on Romanian gymnasts. Then, it’s been said the Japanese Federation is appealing to the FIG, while the world organization does not have any say in these competitions, whose organization is entirely up to the national governing body. On the other hand, Milosovici, Presecan and Ungureanu’s “feat” can give rise to reactions of this type. We’re waiting for the regular invitation to arrive. I repeat, these competitions are up to the discretion of the national federation. We invite whomever we want to the Romanian International. Every year, there are 100 competitions of this type in the world and every country goes to whatever tournament suits them best.”
After hearing the Japanese Gymnastics Federation might not allow Romanian gymnasts to compete in the junior event in Yokohama, RGF President Nicolae Vieru decided to take action. He thought about asking the head of the Youth & Sports Department to stop handing out life annuities to the three gymnasts who posed nude in Japan. The money represents Lavinia Milosovici’s only source of income, since she quit her job as a coach at Deva due to low pay and being too far from her family in Timisoara. Lavinia receives 20 million lei/month ($667), while Presacan and Ungureanu receive 17 million ($567) and 14 million ($467) respectively .
After Japan’s threat, Vieru wanted to stop paying the money to the three gymnasts, even though his attempt has no legal backing as of right now. According to law Number 69/2000, the title dealing with social security for world class athletes states that “Elite athletes who won a gold, silver or bronze medal in individual or team events at Olympic, Senior World or European Championships have the right to a life annuity, as per request and granted by the YSD.” Moreover, the only provision for suspending the annuity comes in the 10th paragraph, where we read “during the period of a comeback as an elite athlete, payment of the life annuity will be suspended.” The not-at-all-rosy situation facing Romanian gymnastics is apparently pushing Nicolae Vieru to extreme measures, who actually have nothing to do with the decision of the former gymnasts.
YSD Secretary of State, Nicolae Marasescu conformed Vieru’s request has no legal basis for support. “Vieru is asking, but he doesn’t know what he’s asking for. In order for the afore-mentioned gymnasts not to receive their life annuity anymore, a court order would be needed, or a senate motion to change the current Physical Education and Sports laws.”
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