*Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu plans to boycott the Paris 2024 Closing Ceremony in protest of a controversial decision that awarded Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles a bronze medal after a successful appeal, which resulted in Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu losing her bronze medal.
“I decided not to participate in the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics, after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonorable way,” Ciolacu wrote on Facebook on Tuesday, The Express reports.
“To withdraw a medal earned by honest work on the basis of an appeal, which neither the coaches nor the top technicians understand, is totally unacceptable!” Ciolacu added.
“The fact that hundreds of millions of viewers from all over the world were, like us Romanians, effectively shocked by this terrible scene, shows that somewhere, in the system of organizing this competition, something is wrong,” Ciolacu said.
“I don’t want to argue with anyone today, but I just choose to protest with my gesture against a blatant injustice towards some Romanian women who have fully proven their worth! Sabrina and Ana Maria, you have a whole nation by your side for whom your work and tears are more valuable than any medal, no matter what precious metal it is!”
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?? Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to boycott Olympic closing ceremony
“I have decided not to attend the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics after the scandalous situation in gymnastics, where our athletes were treated in an absolutely dishonourable way.” pic.twitter.com/hxmSHev7X8
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) August 6, 2024
Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, clarified the reasoning behind the decision to appeal.
“Today [she was] a little sloppy on the landing. But at this point, we had nothing to lose so I was like ‘we’re just going to try,” she said. “I honestly didn’t think it was going to happen but when I heard her scream, I turned around and was like ‘What?'”
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Olympian Jordan Chiles Tears Up After Receiving Message From Singer Normani | WATCH
