In 1997, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) introduced a minimum age requirement of 16 for gymnastic competition at the Olympic Games. The purpose of this rule was to discourage dangerous methods of rigorously training underage athletes in state-sponsored gymnastics boarding facilities, as developed by the former Societ Union and currently employed by the People's Republic of China. In this gallery, we will discuss what these training programs involve and show you a few children who have been subjected to this state-sponsored abuse.

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