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The Croats closed the gates, then they took Zagreb.
Slovenia⚽ Sports7 days ago

The Croats closed the gates, then they took Zagreb.

The European Championships in women's gymnastics concluded in Zagreb with Russia dominating the competition, winning gold in the team event led by Angelina Melnikova. Italy and France took silver and bronze respectively. Slovenia's team competed earlier in the week but did not reach their expected performance levels. Slovenian gymnast Teja Belak faced setbacks during her qualification round, limiting her participation in the finals. The Russian delegation initially faced visa issues from Croatia, which delayed their entry until Monday. Despite international governing body FIG lifting sanctions against Russia, allowing them to compete under a neutral flag, the Croatian government maintained restrictions. Slovenia had high hopes for their team, particularly Belak, who was expected to perform well after recent successes, but injuries and poor performances affected their overall outcome.

The European Championships in women's artistic gymnastics, set to begin in Zagreb, Croatia, will take place without Russian and Belarusian athletes due to visa restrictions imposed by the host country. Nine members of Russia’s delegation, including Olympic and world champions Angelina Melnikova and Viktoriya Listunova, were denied entry visas, according to media reports. The decision was made despite the European Gymnastics Confederation (UEG) following the World Gymnastics Federation (FIG) guidelines allowing participation by Russian and Belarusian competitors. Russian Gymnastics Federation (FGR) confirmed through its press agency TASS that the denial of visas affected several key figures, including Melnikova and Listunova, along with other team members such as Ana Kalmikova, Leila Vasiljeva, Aleksey Usachyov, Sergey Naidin, Evgeniy Kisel, coach Juli Kuksenkov, and doctor Sergei Gulevsky. The FGR stated that all applications for visas were submitted simultaneously and accompanied by identical documentation, yet only 56 out of the 65-member delegation received approval. Melnikova, currently the world champion in all-around gymnastics, had been expected to compete aggressively for medals in Zagreb. Her absence has raised concerns among fans and officials alike, given her track record of success. She expressed disappointment on social media, using an emoji of a broken hammer and writing, “Sport becomes great only when the best face each other. But when powerful competitors are excluded, the most precious thing, fair competition, vanishes.” The Russian federation has criticized the decision, calling it a dangerous precedent that could directly impact the list of participants and the course of qualifying tournaments. They argue that administrative decisions can influence the fairness of competitions and question whether the conditions for equal participation across national federations are being upheld. The federation has already informed both the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) and the European Gymnastics Confederation about the situation and called for a resolution. Melnikova and Listunova won gold medals in the team event at the Tokyo Olympics, with Melnikova also securing an Olympic silver and two bronze medals. Listunova, however, has not competed internationally since 2022, following the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from international competitions after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The upcoming European Championships will be held in Zagreb, where Russian athletes will be allowed to participate without their national symbols. In December 2025, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive board issued recommendations allowing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags and play their national anthems. These recommendations applied to both individual and team sports. This followed similar decisions by multiple international sports federations. In May 2023, the FIG executive board lifted previous restrictions on Russian athletes, permitting them to compete under the Russian flag. This change benefited Melnikova, who recently won the all-around title at the World Championships in October 2025 and added two silver medals in floor exercises. German broadcaster DW News has raised questions about how Melnikova could qualify as a neutral athlete if she ran as a candidate for a political party during local elections. This issue highlights ongoing controversies surrounding the eligibility and status of Russian and Belarusian athletes competing under special conditions.

4 reports

RTV Slovenija (MMC) logoRTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenterFactual 88Objective 8010 days ago
Failed Slovenian day at the EP in Zagreb

The Slovenian women's gymnastics team had an unsuccessful day at the European Championships in Zagreb, failing to qualify for the finals. Teja Belak, a top athlete who has previously reached multiple finals, fell during her vault attempt and missed out on competing for gold. Despite this setback, Belak expressed that she was not overly disappointed, citing difficulties during training sessions prior to the competition. Coach Andrej Mavrič noted that the team entered the championship with high expectations but did not achieve their desired results. Other athletes like Zala Trtnik performed well on the beam, while Tjaša Kysselef, recovering from an injury, opted for safer jumps to avoid further harm. Meanwhile, Lucija Hribar and Vita Prijanovič successfully completed their routines in the all-around event.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on sports performance and does not involve any political figures, policies, or contentious issues. It provides balanced reporting on the outcomes of the competition and includes quotes from both athletes and coaches without apparent bias.

Why factuality (88): The article accurately reports Čeh's qualification to the finals, including his performance in the qualifiers and his strategy. It aligns with the cross-source consensus and includes specific details about his performance and conditions.

Why objectivity (80): The tone is neutral and informative, providing a clear account of Čeh's performance without overt bias. It focuses on the facts of his qualification and the conditions of the competition.

Siol.net logoSiol.netState / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 7513 days ago
Slovenian gymnasts in Zagreb aim to fight for medals

The article reports on upcoming gymnastics competitions in Zagreb, focusing on Slovenian athletes competing in European Championships. The event will take place over two weeks, starting with women's artistic gymnastics from August 14th followed by men's artistic gymnastics from August 19th. Key Slovenian athletes include Teja Belak and Gregor Rakovič, who are expected to compete in the finals. Other notable participants include Lucija Hribar, Zala Trtnik, Vita Prijanovič, and Tjaša Kysselef, some returning after injuries. The article highlights their preparation, goals, and expectations for the competition, including potential qualification for the World Championships. It also mentions other competitors and notes that some athletes have withdrawn due to injuries.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports events and athlete preparations without any overt political framing or ideological slant. It presents information about competitors, their backgrounds, and performance expectations in a neutral manner, without favoring any particular political group or ideology.

Why factuality (85): The article provides accurate information about the upcoming gymnastics competitions in Zagreb, including dates, participants, and details about specific athletes like Teja Belak and Lucija Hribar. It aligns with the cross-source consensus regarding the event's structure and participants. However, i

Why objectivity (75): The tone is generally positive and supportive of the Slovenian athletes, particularly highlighting their preparation and expectations. While this is common in sports reporting, it slightly leans towards an encouraging and optimistic perspective rather than maintaining strict neutrality.

Žurnal24 logoŽurnal24IndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 707 days ago
The Croats closed the gates, then they took Zagreb.

The European Championships in women's gymnastics concluded in Zagreb with Russia dominating the competition, winning gold in the team event led by Angelina Melnikova. Italy and France took silver and bronze respectively. Slovenia's team competed earlier in the week but did not reach their expected performance levels. Slovenian gymnast Teja Belak faced setbacks during her qualification round, limiting her participation in the finals. The Russian delegation initially faced visa issues from Croatia, which delayed their entry until Monday. Despite international governing body FIG lifting sanctions against Russia, allowing them to compete under a neutral flag, the Croatian government maintained restrictions. Slovenia had high hopes for their team, particularly Belak, who was expected to perform well after recent successes, but injuries and poor performances affected their overall outcome.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on sports competition outcomes and athlete performances, with minimal political commentary or framing. It reports on visa issues affecting Russia's participation but does not take a stance on the geopolitical implications. The content remains neutral in tone and focus.

Why factuality (85): The article reports on the European Championships in gymnastics in Zagreb, detailing the Russian team's victory and the competition structure. It mentions the delayed visa approval from Croatia, aligning with the cross-source consensus that Russia was restricted due to the invasion of Ukraine. The a

Why objectivity (70): The tone leans slightly towards supporting the Russian team's participation despite the restrictions, using phrases like 'Klovni' (which translates to 'clowns') and highlighting their achievements. While the facts are presented, there is an underlying narrative that frames the Russian athletes posit

Siol.net logoSiol.netState / PublicCenterFactual 75Objective 6810 days ago
Bad day for Slovenian gymnasts at the EP in Zagreb

The Slovenian women's gymnastics team had a disappointing day at the European Championships in Zagreb, failing to qualify for the finals. Teja Belak, Slovenia's top athlete and seven-time continental champion, fell during her second jump on the vault and missed out on competing for medals. Coach Andrej Mavrič noted that the team entered the competition with high expectations but faced reality, acknowledging strong performances by younger athletes like Lucija Hribar, Vita Prijanovič, and Zala Trtnik. However, none of them advanced to the finals in their respective disciplines. The event will continue next week with men's competitions.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses solely on sports performance and does not involve any political figures, policies, or contentious issues. It provides a balanced account of the team's results and includes quotes from the coach without apparent bias.

Why factuality (75): The article reports on the Slovenian women's artistic gymnastics team's performance at the European Championships in Zagreb. It accurately describes the team's failure to qualify for the finals, citing specific athletes like Teja Belak and her injury during the second vault. The quotes from coach An

Why objectivity (68): The tone is generally neutral, but there is some emotional language when discussing Teja Belak's injury and the team's disappointment. The article highlights certain athletes more than others, which may introduce slight bias. However, it does not overtly take sides or promote a particular viewpoint.

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