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Project K: Documents of Alexandrina Comaneci’s Warning

Dosar De Urmarire Informativa Nr.1954

Bela Karolyi’s behavior raised concerns with Alexandrina Comanici, Nadia’s mother. She requested a meeting with president, Nicolae Ceausescu, and was granted that meeting. However, the meeting never took place.

The following documents are two snippets that show her request and the cancellation of the meeting. As seen in the previous batch of documents, Alexandrina and other parents had frequently expressed concerns to the authorities in an attempt to stop the abusive behavior by the Karolyis.

For a deeper understanding into these documents listen to the first and second part of our discussion with Dr. Stejarel Olaru here:

Part 1 – Project K: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru

Part 2 – Project K: Interview with Nadia & The Secret Police Author Dr. Stejarel Olaru

The first set of documents can be found here.

Further information about Project K is here.

We will continue to release new material in the coming weeks and months and discuss each release on the podcast.

ALEXANDRINA COMPLAINS

BELLA KAROLY towards the gymnasts on the team, has generated dissensions between the gymnasts’ parents and the coach. This has led to complaints, notices, requests of hearings with the local and central party and State bodies being drawn up, with the families Comăneci and Ungureanu being particularly unsatisfied in this regard. Comăneci Alexandrina, without being compelled by third persons, complained, and asked for a hearing with the higher party management, to complain on such occasion about the behavior and attitude that coach KAROLY BELLA has towards the gymnast Nadia Comăneci. This was not accomplished, with the hearing requested and approved, due to the intervention that coach KAROLY BELLA made towards the spouses Comăneci.
From the National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives. Document: I 0005189 Volume: 001


TRANSLATION:
– BELLA KAROLY towards the gymnasts on the team, has generated dissensions between the gymnasts’ parents and the coach.

This has led to complaints, notices, requests of hearings with the local and central party and State bodies being drawn up, with the families Comăneci and Ungureanu being particularly unsatisfied in this regard. Comăneci Alexandrina, without being compelled by third persons, complained, and asked for a hearing with the higher party management, to complain on such occasion about the behavior and attitude that coach KAROLY BELLA has towards the gymnast Nadia Comăneci.

This was not accomplished, with the hearing requested and approved, due to the intervention that coach KAROLY BELLA made towards the spouses Comăneci.

NOTE: Remaining documents are available to club members. Club members also have access to the uninterrupted interview with Stejarel Olaru, author of “Nadia Comaneci and the Secret Police” and early access to future Project K exclusives. Why? Because this kind of work is expensive. We appreciate your support! If you’re already a member, please login to your Club Gym Nerd account. Not a member? Join here.

SUPPORT: International reporting is expensive. If you wish to support the work of our independent journalism, please consider joining Club Gym Nerd, which unlocks many benefits, including a bonus podcast each week, or making a donation here.

CREDITS:
Original Reporting by Jessica O’Beirne and Cosmin Bogdan, freelance journalist.
Contributions by Steve Cooper.
Translations by Beatrice Gheorghisor and Cosmic Bogdan.
Official document transcription and translation by Transperfect.

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