"Light at the end of the tunnel": how Russia reacted to the information about the World Figure Skating Championships

The World Figure Skating Championships in Sweden should take place on schedule - preparations for the event continue as planned.

This was reported by TASS with reference to a source familiar with the situation.

It is noted that this topic was discussed on Thursday, January 28, at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Skating Union (ISU).

At the same time, the ISU has not raised the issue of the name of the Russian national team at the time of the tournament, according to R-Sport.

Earlier, the publication wrote that Russian figure skaters will perform at the championship as a team of the Russian Figure Skating Federation or Figure Skating Russia.

The championship of the planet in Stockholm should take place from 22 to 28 March.

However, tickets for the competition cannot be purchased yet.

The official website of the tournament says that this issue will depend on the situation with the coronavirus in the country.

The possibility of canceling the World Cup was quite real, because in December ISU announced that the January European Championships, the Grand Prix Final in Beijing and the World Junior Championships in Lyon, France, would not take place.

And later, the Swedish Figure Skating Federation canceled national tournaments until the end of the 2020/21 season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In early January, the topic of transferring the primacy of the planet to Russia was even actively discussed, but ISU Vice-President Alexander Lakernik stressed that this was impossible after the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

"The organizers did everything right - there is no need to postpone the World Cup"

The information that the world championship in Stockholm is likely to take place has caused joyful emotions in the world of national figure skating.

Experts note that the tournament is necessary for both athletes and fans.

This point of view was expressed, in particular, by the famous coach Tatyana Tarasova.

“The organizers did everything right - there is no need to postpone the World Cup.

As for the team name, Figure Skating Russia is a great name.

It was all my life, but what else is needed?

Why come up with something else, "- quotes the words of the expert" Championship ".

In turn, two-time Olympic champion Maxim Trankov recalled that the coronavirus pandemic did not prevent the recent international speed skating and short track speed skating competitions.

He also spoke about the ban on performing at the World Cup under the flag of the country.

“No matter how the team is called, our athletes understand everything.

For me, let's say, it wouldn't matter if it can't be called the Russian national team.

I like the name, Russia is there.

Morally, this will not put pressure on anyone, the last time our flag was raised in Sochi.

This is not even a topic, everyone is waiting for us to serve the disqualification and fulfill all the requirements.

And so - athletes train, coaches train.

We will try to win in any case, ”Trankov noted.

Olympic champion Roman Kostomarov, on the contrary, emphasized that the Russian figure skaters in the current situation "will be sad and insulting."

“People put their lives in order to perform at this or that tournament, to achieve their maximum goal, but they have no opportunity.

Yes, everyone strives to perform under the flag of their country, to hear the anthem, but if this is the situation today, it only becomes sad and offensive.

And nothing can be done about it.

An athlete needs to compete, otherwise he has nothing to do in sports, "R-Sport quotes Kostomarov.

According to famous coach Tamara Moskvina, the cancellation of another world championship would be a sign that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected world sports especially strongly.

“Therefore, the desire of the Swedish federation and all the measures that they together with ISU have taken to make this tournament take place are welcome.

They had to do a lot of work in order not to deprive the fans and athletes of the holiday of participation in this start, ”- quotes the words of the TASS specialist.

She also said that she plans to deliver the good news to the athletes on Friday, although they will probably know about it sooner.

“Of course, everyone waited and hoped.

“The hopes of young men are nourished, joy is given to the old” - we lived by these words.

The coaches are happy with this news, and the skaters from tomorrow begin to prepare even more actively for this start, ”added Moskvina.

Well-known choreographer Ilya Averbukh called the ISU's decision "expected."

According to the expert, he had no doubts that the World Championship would take place on time and would not be canceled.

“Everything was heading towards this, and it would be strange to cancel it when championships are already taking place in other sports.

We see how the same skiers, biathletes, skaters compete.

For figure skaters, the upcoming world championship will already be pre-Olympic, it will compete for quotas for the Games, and it is very important for our guys.

For them it is like the light at the end of the tunnel, ”the choreographer emphasized.

The famous coach Alexander Zhulin did not hide his joy.

“What happiness!

Thank God I'm very happy.

That's the right decision.

I already want a normal life, to perform somewhere, to travel somewhere, burn it all with fire.

Athletes will be inspired now.

Name?

In general, it makes no difference, even though they are called, just to perform.

We performed in Pyeongchang and Albertville without a flag or anthem.

Already used to it.

If only they showed it on television, ”the specialist noted.

Olympic champion Alexei Yagudin called the information about the holding of the tournament as scheduled “very cool news”.

He added that otherwise the skaters could simply lose motivation due to the lack of major international tournaments.

“You involuntarily begin to ask yourself:“ Why should I train?

What to strive for? "

Now that the World Cup has been confirmed, it is not so important whether there will be spectators or not.

This is no longer an endless desert, when you do not understand in which direction to move.

Now you begin to see not even a mirage, but a whole reservoir, to which you must purposefully go.

As a former athlete, I am incredibly happy for the guys, ”Yagudin summed up.