"It would be a real miracle": what do they say about the idea of ​​transferring the World Figure Skating Championships to Russia

"It is legally impossible"

RF has no right to host the World Figure Skating Championship.

This was stated by the vice-president of the International Skating Union (ISU) Alexander Lakernik, commenting on the information about the allegedly possible transfer of the tournament to the country from Sweden. 

“Russia, of course, would have coped with this task.

But, unfortunately, this is legally impossible due to the recent decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), "RBC-Sport quotes Lakernik. 

Rumors that the country may host the championship of the planet emerged after the Swedish Figure Skating Federation canceled national tournaments until the end of the 2020/21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The world championship is to be held in Stockholm from 22 to 28 March. 

According to the President of the Russian Figure Skating Federation (FFKKR) Alexander Gorshkov, the fate of the ISU tournament will be decided on January 28.

However, he also stressed that Russia will not be able to host the championship under any circumstances.   

“They will explore all possible options.

But for this you need to coordinate everything with the country's federation.

Is Russia ready to host the World Cup?

You need to really look at things, you also need to take into account the decisions of CAS ", - quotes Gorshkov's words" Sport-Express " 

"Russia knows how to hold competitions like no one else"

Despite the fact that holding the World Championship in Russia is legally impossible, this topic has caused serious discussion in the world of Russian figure skating.

One of the first to transfer the tournament to the country was the legendary coach Tatiana Tarasova. 

“I propose to hold the championship in Russia.

We know how to hold competitions like no one else.

The situation with the coronavirus will not affect this in any way, ”Sport24 quotes Tarasova. 

The specialist was instantly supported by the Olympic champions Evgeny Plushenko and Alexey Yagudin. 

“The question about the holding of the World Cup in Russia should be addressed to sports officials.

It is unclear if we can do this due to CAS sanctions.

But if you do not take them into account, it would be great if our country accepted the tournament.

We are ready for this.

Russia knows how to hold such tournaments at a high level, ”Plushenko noted.

In turn, the famous coach Alexander Zhulin emphasized that if Russia takes the World Cup instead of Sweden, "it will not be worse for sure." 

“Such a tournament will be held with dignity in our country.

As a person, given the coronavirus situation, I think that it would not be worth accepting, but as a professional I dream that the tournament will take place and it does not even matter in which country, ”the specialist said.

Finally, State Duma deputy and three-time Olympic champion Irina Rodnina lamented that even if the World Cup was held in Russia, it would almost certainly be in empty stands due to the difficult epidemiological situation in the world. 

“Our president is an anti-crisis manager, the federation is also an anti-crisis one.

It will probably be good if the World Cup is held in Russia.

Another question - there will be almost no spectators.

And if they are not there, then there is not much difference where to spend.

The questions are whether the state is open or closed, how the airlines will operate.

The most difficult thing is to work out the technical requirements ", - quotes Rodnina" Championship ".

“We would organize everything at the highest level”

Experts interviewed by RT also stressed that the country, in theory, is capable of organizing the tournament at the highest level.

For example, this point of view was expressed by the Olympic champion Tatyana Navka. 

“I am one hundred percent sure that Russia could have hosted the World Cup better than any other country.

There is no doubt: we would have organized everything at the highest level.

And it will be very great if the championship of the planet really takes place here.

I can only say that I am in favor of such a decision with both hands, "Navka said in a commentary on RT. 

Her former partner Roman Kostomarov also fully supported her.

However, he, like Rodnina, complained that the tournament could be fraught with serious logistical difficulties. 

“I am sure Russia could easily host the World Cup.

Another thing is whether someone wants to come to us.

Now, after all, many countries are completely closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and athletes are not able to go anywhere, "Kostomarov said in an interview with RT. 

The Olympic champion also found it difficult to answer the question of whether it is worth holding the planetary championship in the current conditions.

According to him, today it is impossible to predict what epidemiological situation will develop in the world in March. 

“Now it is very difficult to guess whether the world championship will take place or not.

In the current reality, we cannot even say what will happen tomorrow.

It is clear that, according to the rules, the tournament is worth holding, but everything will depend on the situation with COVID-19.

Again, I repeat, it is now impossible to say whether the incidence will decline by March.

At the moment, it remains to state with regret that the situation is alarming, "Kostomarov added. 

But the Olympic champion Natalya Bestemyanova said that the World Cup should not be canceled in any case, so as not to deprive athletes of the opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games. 

“I think it must be done without fail.

After all, this tournament will decide the fate of the Olympic tickets, what quota the countries will have there.

The pre-Olympic World Cup is not so much a planetary championship as an important qualifying stage for the Games.

He has always been very important to skaters.

Without him, it will be extremely difficult to resolve qualification issues, "Bestemyanova emphasized in an interview with RT. 

Nevertheless, she does not believe that ISU will decide on such a step as moving the tournament to Russia with the current CAS verdict. 

“I get the impression that after the CAS decision, no one will hand over the tournament to us.

It seems to me that it is easier for the international community to cancel it than to carry it out with us.

But Russia would definitely do it.

We would all be happy if the planetary championship took place with us.

It would be a real holiday for athletes and spectators, a real miracle, "- added Bestemyanova. 

In turn, the famous choreographer Ilya Averbukh urged not to develop this topic at all, since it makes no sense. 

“In my opinion, transferring the World Cup from Sweden to Russia is simply impossible.

Anyone can understand this.

Unfortunately, after the announcement of the CAS decision, the holding of the planetary championship in our country is an unreal story.

In fact, the journalists themselves came up with this topic, "Averbukh summed up in a commentary on RT.