“Predict 40-50 medals”: ​​Pozdnyakov on preparations for the Games in Tokyo, the new role of Medvedeva and the restoration of the VFLA

- Last week, figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva was declared ambassador of the Russian national team at the Tokyo Summer Olympics and will accompany her in Japan next summer. Her fans fear that this role will negatively affect sports training. How big are the fears?

- The fact that fans are worried about the subject of their adoration is very good, I like this story. But I must say that before accepting such an offer from the Russian Olympic Committee, Eugene consulted with her coaching staff, with the figure skating federation. All their interests were taken into account with an eye on preparations for the sports season. Acting ambassador at the Tokyo Olympics will not stop Medvedev from getting ready. We put the athlete's interests at the forefront, and they have been fairly taken into account.

• Pozdnyakov - about the experiences of fans of Medvedeva

- How do you assess the financial condition of sports federations in Russia at the moment? How satisfied are OCD with how much they earn?

- A very important point is the approach to the formation of the budget of the federations. Some of them are quite successful in terms of media and marketing activities. Some of them are less successful. There is the principle of Olympic solidarity, which allows large federations to share with less successful ones. This approach of the International Olympic Committee allows us in Russia to take into account the difference between the incomes of various federations.

The ideal option is when federations are funded exclusively by sponsors and marketing activities. But until this can be achieved, the state and other public organizations, including OCD, will help them in carrying out their statutory activities, primarily in preparing for the main starts of the season.

- How satisfied are you with the state of affairs in athletics?

- I can’t be completely satisfied until VFLA is restored. But I want to state that there is serious progress in this direction. We have done a lot of work to change the anti-doping culture in the country, to change the mentality of athletes and trainers to the fact of the rejection of doping. We are changing together. Some time ago, we were worried about athletes who took illegal drugs.

- Has the situation changed today?

- Yes, she became different. This is an important result of our work. Any phenomena related to the illegal or fair conduct of business on sports fields should be condemned by society. As for the VFLA, the priority for us is the interests of athletes, so that athletes have the same rights and obligations as their counterparts from other countries. Regardless of the status of VFLA, our athletes will perform at the Olympic Games in their form, and in honor of their victories, I hope that the flag will be raised and the anthem will sound.

- Is there any chance that all athletes will be allowed to participate in the Games, and not just those who have international access?

- Yes, the chances are great. We are in constant contact with the international federation. I think that before the end of the year, the issue of the participation of athletes will be finally decided.

- Do you follow the selection for the Olympics in game sports, how do you assess the situation?

- Of course, I follow not only team, but also individual sports. This is a question of the number of athletes who will represent our delegation. Team sports are important to us from this point of view. We had success with volleyball players, now in basketball the men's team is trying to win a license. Unfortunately, women's basketball failed to do this, but we hope for the success of men at the World Cup.

- A little more than 300 days are left before the Olympic Games. What bothers you the most in this regard?

- Basically, these are things related to our operations. But this is such a planned concern, one might say pleasant. We started the countdown, less than a year is left before the start. The ROC is determined to create the most comfortable conditions for athletes for the final stage of training and their direct presence at the Games.

This year will be difficult for us with the federations due to the large number of events that we will have to carry out. But this is an interesting work, grateful. I hope that in a year we will monitor the successes of athletes and enjoy their victories. Two weeks together we will root for the Russian Olympic team.

- What is your medal forecast for athletes in Tokyo?

- The number of awards we can approximately predict. These are 40-50 medals. In the unofficial standings, according to the results of all the world championships that take place between the Olympic Games, our team would take fourth place. Japan is ahead of us, but we will try to impose a fight on it, despite the fact that we will compete on the territory of our competitor.

• Pozdnyakov - about the medal forecast for the Olympic Games in Tokyo