The 1981 World Gymnastics Championships were rife with scandal—a positive doping test and age falsification that even concerned the IOC. But another story has been largely forgotten: the championships were never supposed to take place in Moscow at all. They were supposed to be held in Mexico.
In March 1981, Mexico formally withdrew as host, citing what officials diplomatically termed “serious difficulties beyond their control.” The reality was more prosaic: according to Mexican sports press, the president of the Mexican Gymnastics Federation had done virtually no preparatory work. With the championships scheduled for late 1981 and no viable host, FIG President Yuri Titov faced a crisis. The solution was expedient but politically fraught—moving the competition to Moscow, which still had all the facilities from the 1980 Summer Olympics.
For Mexican gymnasts who had trained intensely for what was supposed to be a home championship, the relocation was devastating. By October, their coach was publicly pleading with Mexican sports authorities to send the team to Moscow, noting that athletes had “sacrificed a year of studies and work” preparing for a competition that would now take place in the Soviet Union instead of their own country. In the end, three Mexican men and three Mexican women competed in Moscow.
What follows is a short overview of what happened.
Mexico’s Withdrawal
PARIS (France) — The new host city for the 1981 World Gymnastics Championships, replacing Mexico, which has withdrawn, will be designated on April 17, it was announced here today.
Mexico had been scheduled to host the elite of intercontinental gymnastics in December, but after its decision to renounce organizing the tournament, the international federation issued a dramatic call for bids.
The deadline for submitting candidacies will close on April 10, and one week later the new host city will be announced.
Sources did not specify whether any candidate cities have already emerged.
Meanwhile, the European Women’s Championships, which had been scheduled for May 16 and 17 in Madrid, Spain, have been moved up to May 2 and 3.
El Informador (Guadalajara), March 18, 1981
Trying to Move the Competition from Mexico City to Guadalajara
Guadalajara Could Be the World Gymnastics Host
MEXICO CITY, March 28 (Exc-AEE) — Dr. Manuel Mondragón y Kalb, head of the Undersecretariat of Sport, officially announced on March 2 that Mexico was declining to host the 21st World Gymnastics Championships.
The undersecretary made this decision after several meetings with Yuri Titov, president of the International Gymnastics Federation; Max Bangerter, secretary general; Jamile Ashmore, technical adviser; and Juan José Zalce de la Peña, president of the Mexican Gymnastics Federation.
At the time, it was stated that Mexican sports authorities canceled the world gymnastics championships after determining that Zalce de la Peña’s work had been deficient.
Preparations were nonexistent. We recall this now because it appears that a second chapter of the world championships is beginning: Professor Francisco Ávila López, a member of the [Mexican Gymnastics Federation] technical committee, said today that the gymnastics world championships could be held in Guadalajara, Jalisco.
Mr. Zalce de la Peña has been in Europe for several days, negotiating with the FIG for the world championships to be staged in Guadalajara.
The final word on this championship will be known next Tuesday. There are still possibilities that the world championships could take place in our country.
El Informador (Guadalajara), March 29, 1981.
The FIG’s Explanation of What Happened
Unfortunately the Mexican Gymnastics Federation was forced to forego organization of the 1981 World Championships for Gymnastics and the Congress during the same year as a result of serious difficulties beyond their control. Because of the very short notice we received, we were forced to send out a written enquiry and to leave it up to the Executive Committee to make a decision. In view of the extremely difficult situation and prompted only by the desire to ensure smooth running of the 1981 World Championships, the Executive Committee has chosen Moscow where, since the last Olympic Games took place there, all the necessary installations are available.
Report of the President of the FIG, September Bulletin #110 has Titov’s report to Congress
Note: When the FIG considered moving the 1974 World Championships, Munich, the city of the 1972 Olympics, had offered to host the competition. So, this was not unprecedented territory. That said, there is very little discussion in the FIG bulletin’s about this decision, leaving us with more questions than official answers.
The Announcement Was Made during the Soviet Cup
Yuri Titov, president of the International Gymnastics Federation, first informed the journalists that the members of the FIG Executive Committee had confirmed in writing their agreement to hold the World Championships in Moscow that November. Then the announcement was made over the loudspeaker.
The Palace of Sports erupted in applause, and the competitors rushed to embrace one another. Oh, how everyone longed to earn a place on the Soviet national team and compete that autumn in the capital of our Motherland! After all, the World Championships had been held in Moscow only once before—long ago, in 1958…
Sovetsky Sport, April 17, 1981
Президент Международной федерации гимнастики Ю. Титов сообщил сначала журналистам о том, что члены исполкома ФИЖ письменно подтвердили согласие на проведение чемпионата мира в ноябре в Москве. А потом об этом объявил диктор. Дворец спорта взорвался аплодисментами, а участницы бросились обнимать друг друга. О, как всем захотелось попасть в сборную СССР, выступить осенью в столице нашей Родины! Ведь мировое первенство только один раз было в Москве — в далеком 1958 году…
Mexico Uncertain If They Will Send Gymnasts
Gymnasts Hope to Be Able to Attend Moscow
MEXICO CITY, Oct. 7 (Exc-AEE) — “For our part, we have fulfilled our obligations; we hope and believe that the sports authorities will do the same and will send the team to compete at the World Gymnastics Championships in Moscow,” said men’s team coach Rubén Cuevas today.
Last weekend, a selection meet was held at the gymnasium of the Higher School of Physical Education in preparation for the Moscow World Championships. In this regard, both the Subsecretariat of Sport and the Mexican Sports Confederation considered it necessary to conduct an evaluation of the competition, and this Friday, they will decide whether the team will travel to Moscow.
Rubén Cuevas also said that it would be unjust if the young men were not allowed to go to the World Championships. Most of them sacrificed a year of study and work to prepare for this important tournament, which was originally supposed to be held in Mexico.
Everyone trained harder than ever and improved their level by 50 percent compared to last year. But—and this is the most important point—the competitors Cano, Galindo, and Chávez achieved the qualifying scores stipulated by the Mexican Gymnastics Federation.
For the coach and the athletes, this is what matters. “We were given a goal, we met it; now we should be sent.”
El Informador (Guadalajara), October 8, 1981
In the end, Mexico did not field a full team, but they did send three men and three women. According to International Gymnast, Yeini Gutiérrez finished 116th; María Ester Tomás, 122nd; and Patricia García, 125th. On the men’s side, José-Luis Galindo finished 156th; Edmundo Decena and José-Luis Cano tied for 158th.
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