Gymnastics Ireland finally apologizes to black girl not given medal

Gymnastics Ireland has issued an unreserved apology to the family of a young black girl who was not awarded a medal at a Gymstart event in Dublin in March 2022. The incident gained widespread attention after a video of the ceremony went viral on social media.

In a statement released on Monday, Gymnastics Ireland expressed deep regret for the upset caused, stating that it knew it needed to take further action to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The governing body also condemned all forms of racism.

The incident had initially led to a complaint from the girl’s parents alleging racist behavior, which was received by Gymnastics Ireland in March 2022. Following independent mediation, a resolution was reached by both parties in August 2023.

As part of the investigation into the incident, the officials involved expressed deep regret for what they described as an honest error. A written apology from the official was issued, and the girl eventually received her medal after the ceremony.

Despite these actions, the girl’s mother, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed dissatisfaction, believing that Gymnastics Ireland had failed to issue a public apology. She indicated her intention to escalate the matter to the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation in Switzerland.

The new statement from Gymnastics Ireland emphasized their commitment to resolving the matter in good faith and with the best intentions, acknowledging that what transpired should not have occurred and expressing sincere apologies for any further upset caused.

Stay tuned to Baaghi TV for more. Download our app for the latest news, updates & interesting content!