Alina Kabaeva makes a statement before the start of the Sky Grace Cup tournaments

"The Sky Grace International Association of Rhythmic Gymnastics Clubs published terms and conditions of competitions to be held under our auspices and included into the Integrated Time Schedule of the Russian Ministry of Sports. We received in response a plenitude of positive responses and questions concerning their meaning. We would like to clarify: regrettably, the practice evolved with us in many kinds of sports, whereby athletes, young ones and beginners in the first instance, can commonly come into the spotlight, demonstrate their talents and qualify for categories only on condition of contributing a certain amount of money, which is most often called ‘the entry fee.’

 

Therefore, a family having no required funds is unable to provide their child with participation in competitions needed to qualify for categories, which is not only unfair but also limits abilities of finding future champions. The government or sponsors but in no way Russian families should assume financial support of relevant sports events. The Sky Grace Association made a statement exactly in this connection that there will be no charges in our case, whatever they may be called. The Association undertakes all the expenses of organizing competitions being part of the Integrated Time Schedule of the Russian Ministry of Sports, where qualifications for categories will be performed. We wish success to all the participants in our sports starts!"