Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Sorin Grindeanu said on Saturday, after Parliament "found the solution" to defend gymnast Ana Maria Barbosu's Olympic bronze medal in the Lausanne case, that the Romanian state will fight not only for a medal, but above all for justice.
"We all watched this wonderful girl in August 2024, with the flag on her shoulders, crying with joy. And then we saw how everything was taken from her within a few hours. I am glad that Parliament has now found the solution through which we secure the necessary funds so that Romania can go all the way, to Lausanne, in the case concerning Ana Maria Barbosu's Olympic medal. We are not fighting just for a bronze medal, but especially for justice. It is a signal the state has the duty to send to any Romanian competing under the tricolor: if you are wronged, this country stands by you. Good luck, Ana. We stand by you!," Grindeanu wrote on Facebook, according to Agerpres.
PSD Senator Stefan Radu Oprea explained, also in a social-media post, that "100,000 euros were needed for the defense, money the Romanian Olympic Committee could not use to pay lawyers, although it had the amount in its account".
"In all the turmoil in Parliament, the PSD amendment was voted, reopening the chances for gymnast Ana Maria Barbosu to defend her Paris medal. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Ana Maria Barbosu won bronze on floor. Her performance was challenged by the U.S. team. The American coach's appeal, filed after the one-minute deadline, was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, and the medal officially remained hers. The U.S. took the case to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, which sent it back to CAS. 100,000 euros were needed for the defense, money the Romanian Olympic Committee could not use for lawyers, even though it had them in its account. The PSD amendment makes it possible for Ana Maria Barbosu to be represented in the case, with the hope she will keep the medal she earned through tremendous work. A serious state does not abandon its athletes' performance for petty budget calculations, as happened under the Bolojan Government. A normal state defends its values, it does not sacrifice them for balance-sheet savings," Oprea wrote.
An amendment included in the bill strengthening the status of Romanian air traffic authority Romatsa, adopted by Parliament, states: "Within the approved budget, the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee may support expenses related to international litigation - fees, expert reports, court taxes, and any other costs arising from handling cases concerning the defense of athletes' rights and Romania's sporting performance."
The bill, adopted Friday by the Chamber of Deputies as the decision-making body, aims to introduce fiscal-budgetary measures by amending several regulatory acts, in order to strengthen the sustainability of public finances, improve tax-administration claims, and ensure the legal framework needed to meet Romania's national and European commitments.
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