Sovetsky Sport. July 3, 1977. Berlin (TASS). A correspondent with the GDR newspaper Deutsches Sportecho interviewed the president of the women's technical committee of the FIG (International Gymnastics Federation), Ellen Berger. We publish it with some abbreviations:
Q: The European Championship in Prague was the first large competition after Montreal and at the same time an important milestone on the "track" of preparation for the 1980 Olympics. How would you evaluate it from this point of view?
Berger: Firstly, it is worth nothing the high level of skill of the championship participants. Young talents like Elena Mukhina from the USSR kind of opened up the future of women's gymnastics for us. Secondly, the fact that representatives of such countries as Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Norway have joined the leaders speaks of the general progress of women's gymnastics. The world's best athletes deservedly won in Prague, but young people are hot on their heels, and victories are becoming increasingly difficult for the aces.
Q: How does the committee you head adapt to the times?
Berger: We repond to the progress of gymnastics by improving the rules, and we take it into account when evaluating the gymnasts' performance. For example, the vault has progressed particularly rapidly recently. We responded to this by requiring that in the finals competition two different vaults must be performed, with a preliminary score added to the average score. The change in judging was decided in Montreal, and it came into force in Prague. Other amendments to the rules are being discussed, but this does not mean that they should be changed all the time. We do this taking into account the need and for the benefit of sport. By the way, I note the high level of judging at the Prague championship.
Q: How then should we re-assess the claims against the technical committee by the leadership of the Romanian delegation?
Berger: I have already given a negative assessment of the accusations at the press conference devoted to the "early" departure of the Romanian team from the championship. I repeat: there is no basis for those claims. After the all-around competition, the Romanian representatives - the head of the foreign department of the sports committee of the Communist Party of Romania, Pau, the delegation head, Vieru, and the first vice-president of the technical committee, Simionescu - thanked our committee for the fact that its work contributed to an honest and fair competition.
Q: What should be done to make scoring more subjective? Is modern technology used for this?
Berger: One must always keep up with the times. Although in gymnastics we do not resort to the help of a tape measure or stopwatch, we strive for complete objectivity. In Prague, for this purpose, for the first time, a video recording was reviewed when disputes arose. This innovation has proven istelf. I am sure that it will never be used for the detriment of the gymnasts. Another innovation is the open draw of the participants, which we will continue to conduct. We have nothing to hide from representatives of the radio, press, and television. I think that publicity will only benefit our sport.