“Sport serves the noble goals of developing relations between countries”
Vladimir Putin took part in the international forum "Russia is a sports power", held in Nizhny Novgorod. One of the main topics of the head of state’s speech was the situation around the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) and claims to it from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which could lead to the non-admission of the team to participate in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The head of state noted that the country is interested in observing sporting principles and waging a “fair and clean fight."
“Further promotion of the great, unifying world of sports values is one of the key tasks of our large, multinational sports family. And it must be resolved together, based on time-tested norms and rules, respecting and hearing each other, building a constructive, friendly dialogue, ”Putin said.
In this regard, the Russian side is fully prepared to cooperate with WADA in the fight against doping and fulfills all the conditions set for it. The President assured that both heads of sports organizations and athletes themselves, which are an integral part of the Olympic movement, are interested in this. He added that the country is in constant contact with all major international organizations.
At the same time, Russia hopes that this dialogue will be conducted without political interference.
“I just really hope that all issues of this kind will be resolved on an equal, fair basis, within the framework of the current sports legislation, and that no one will be discriminated against for any political reasons,” Putin emphasized.
Representatives of international sports organizations, including the head of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Alexander Cheferin, also became participants in the forum in Nizhny Novgorod. Together with the President of the Russian Federation, he visited the exhibition “Modern Sport. Innovation and Prospects ”and invited the head of state to the opening ceremony of the 2020 European Football Championship, which will be held at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Putin promised to come.
In turn, the head of state noted the importance of sports in Russia, which confirms the large number of major competitions that she will hold in the coming years.
“Sport serves the noble goals of developing relations between countries and supporting the health of nations, the interaction between nations. These are extremely important goals, ”Putin said.
The President of Russia, accompanied by the Minister of Sports Pavel Kolobkov, also visited the Boxing Federation booth. There, he talked with representatives of the national team, who gave him a boxing glove encrusted with diamonds, and talked about his sports past.
“In my youth I was engaged in boxing, and once my nose was broken. But I didn’t go to the doctor. Everything grew together for a very long time. Time has passed - I switched to another sport, ”the president shared his memories.
- Putin presented a boxing glove with diamonds
In addition, he met with the winners and prize winners of the XXX Summer Universiade, in which the Russian team took second place in the team event, winning 82 awards. Putin congratulated the athletes on their successful performance and wished them further success.
“Now we are discussing with colleagues from international federations what and how can be done in Russia, in which areas. We have good prospects. Plans are already in place. There are still applications for various events, large and powerful starts. You will have a place to perform and show off with your skills, ”he concluded.
“Large-scale competitive activity solves two important tasks at once”
Also on Thursday, October 10, in Nizhny Novgorod, a meeting of the Presidential Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports was held, which was attended by the heads of federations and other sports organizations. It discussed the solution of problems to achieve national goals in this area. In particular, in order to involve a larger number of the population in an active lifestyle, Vladimir Putin proposed encouraging sports in labor collectives, and also insisted on expanding specialized infrastructure in small towns and villages.
“In general, the competitions that take place in Russia should cover all sectors and all health groups, include both national and Olympic sports, since multifaceted, large-scale competitive activity solves two important tasks at once: popularization of sports and an active lifestyle among the population and search and selection of promising guys who want to connect their destiny with the sport of the highest achievements, ”Putin explained.
He noted the positive experience gained by the country during international competitions, and also supported the idea of holding the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Russia.
“We can win the application, but the competition?” I have nothing against. First of all, it is necessary that the Ministry of Sports think with you. Work on this, ”the president addressed Igor Artemyev, head of the Russian Rugby Federation.
In addition, the issue of uneven funding of sports clubs was raised. As its solution, the formation of a single sponsorship fund was proposed.
“This means that all the companies that are currently financing their clubs will have to send money to the fund, and the funds from there will be fairly distributed to all other teams. I think that such a “collective farm” would be much fairer than what we see today when the purse competition is taking place, ”Putin is sure.
The next meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports is scheduled for spring 2020.