"Huge, developing, breathing anew city": Khabensky about the transformation of St. Petersburg and Euro 2020

- Not all well-known and honored cultural figures willingly agree to take part in social projects, and even more so to act as ambassadors for a long distance.

How easy was it for you to make the decision to become the Euro 2020 football ambassador and what won you over?

- There was no need to bribe.

First, I love beautiful football.

Of course, the victory of our national team is important for me, but first of all I stand for a great beautiful game.

Secondly, here we are talking not only about a sports event, but also an opportunity to give children from different foundations and social strata to participate in it.

One way or another, we make a holiday for children, which they sometimes lack for one reason or another.

- What do you see as your mission?

- I'm a fan.

I would not say that I have a specific mission.

For me it is happiness and honor to be an ambassador, in any way to promote a great sports festival.

- In 2018, St. Petersburg, along with other cities of the country, hosted the FIFA World Cup.

In your opinion, has the city changed significantly since that moment?

- I have not been to St. Petersburg for a long time because of various epidemics and "vacations" - a year and a half for sure.

Of course, many roads and places are simply not recognized.

Everything has changed so much.

Something superfluous has gone, and not into the background, but completely.

Hidden somewhere.

And now I see a huge, developing, breathing city in front of me.

- The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) is considering the possibility of transferring Euro 2020 matches from Dublin to St. Petersburg.

How do you assess this perspective?

- I think our fans will be happy.

Additional games and the opportunity to see beautiful football are just a joy.

- To what extent is the European Football Championship a fertile ground for implementing the projects that you and your foundation are involved in?

- Partially, the primacy of the continent is already helping us to carry out our projects.

So, our players partially assembled the layout of the St. Petersburg stadium, which will host the Euro 2020 matches.

Here is their fantasy, time, work.

They also designed the sweatshirts in which the Russian national team players went to the training match.

Many of our patients are struggling with serious illnesses.

And for them it is extremely important not to dwell only on this, but to show themselves in different directions.

And to see the result of your work is very important.

Children could watch how the players of the national team went to the game in the sweaters they had prepared - someone on TV, someone specially came to the stadium.

This makes it easier, faster to cope with the disease.

The extra incentive is very important to them.

- At the European Football Championship, the Russian national team will play in the same group with the teams of Belgium, Denmark and Finland.

How do you plan to support Stanislav Cherchesov's charges at the tournament?

- Will

to be ill just like on the day when the Russian national hockey team won gold in South Korea.

It seems to me that then the whole country got up at four in the morning, sat in front of the TV and was sick.

I believe that the desire and will of our fans has largely pushed the athletes to win awards.

I think if during the European Championship we all keep our fists, get sick, then victory will come.

- Do you plan to attend the matches of the Russian national team in St. Petersburg?

- Right now I am looking at my work schedule.

I think I'll come in July.