OLYMPIC GYMNASTICS CHINESE AGE CONTROVERSY

[jasonw]

No I do not agree with you. The International Gymnastics Federation has said repeatedly that a passport is the “accepted proof of a gymnast’s eligibility,” and that China’s gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls’ passports and deemed them valid.
Jason

[Shambler]

I don't agree with you at all. From your signature I can see you're American, so that would explain the sour grapes/jealousy.

Those girls are there with full IOC approval - they can't help it if they're so young yet so talented. If the Americans had girls of the same age there winning medals, no-one would be kicking up a moan.

Shambler

[Mighty_Modders]

nope cannot say i do. theres no proof to back up any kind of claim like that, people should be more willing to accept that people are pretty darn good rather than try and diminish what they've achieved by accusing them of cheating when there is absolutely no reason to.

[amyfairycakes]

nope cannot say i do. theres no proof to back up any kind of claim like that, people should be more willing to accept that people are pretty darn good rather than try and diminish what they've achieved by accusing them of cheating when there is absolutely no reason to.

Actually there is a lot of proof to suggest that the girls are actually only 14 when you're supposed to be 16 to compete. There are reports in the Chinese news media, and from provincial sports authorities which would list them as having only being borin in mid '93 or '94.
The reason the IOC won't investigate the claims is because they say it's for the Gymnastic Federation to investigate.
Here's a link to an investigative story the New York Times published about it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/sport ... YexofNOjUg

[TheScarletPimpernel]

It's not robbed of their medals? It's STRIPPED of their medals (similar to your signature.).

And I agree it's completely unfair. On some of their International Gymnastic Federation cards there ages when they joined do not match up at all. And it's unfair because of not only their stature, but they also have a higher tolerance for pain & physcological factors do not generally influence them at that age.

They will probably admit it in a few years when they leave China, just like the other girl who was 14 in Sydney I believe did when she got the silver on bars.

They are extremly talented though, not trying to take that away from them. But just unfair.

And I wouldn't be suprised if they brought a case after the olympics are actually over. That's usually the time they do these things.

And it's more a sin that Cheng Fei got a bronze medal for falling on the vault!!!!!!!!!

[TwiHardPotterFan]

I don't believe that all of them are of age. Bella Karolyi has said they aren't I read an article some where that the government lied and changed their pass ports which isn't hard to do. I think they are getting judged in an unfair way, Nastia had a better uneven bar routine and gold silver, Alicia landed her vault and didn't get anything.

[sgv123]

the passports are govenment issued so they can make the girls whatever age they want. last year the one girl i think her name is hexin he or something like that had a passport and other legal documents saying she was 13. earlier this year she had other documents issued saying she is 16. something not right there............

[Sammya]

I don't know what to believe, but if you look in their faces it's quite obvious they're not sixteen yet, they really look like 13 - 14, but definitely not 16. I don't know how could they possibly lie about their age but I think they really are younger than they should be. That's my opinion.

[guilder1st]

I edited your post, no reason for language like that on this forum.
Also can you make your signature smaller, it's really annoying to scroll down 3 large photo's every time. Especially for some of our users that maybe have slower internet connections.
Thank you.

[jasonw]

Please respect fellow members and stop your rudeness.
Jason :neutral: