“We have obvious competitive advantages”: Putin met with the winners and prize-winners of the Beijing Olympics

Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with the winners and medalists of the Beijing Olympics.

The athletes were awarded state awards, the head of state also had an informal conversation with the gold medalists of the competition.

Before the meeting, the athletes had to spend 14 days in quarantine.

Many reacted positively to this.

Figure skater Victoria Sinitsina, who won silver in ice dancing with Nikita Katsalapov, as well as first place in team competitions, admitted that she had finally slept.

“I even like it.

The last few months have been hectic.

Now I exhaled, put my thoughts in order.

Finally got some sleep.

In general, everything is great.

I'll walk some more.

In the meantime, you can walk for me.

Has anything bloomed yet?

— she wrote in her Telegram channel.

“You raised the flag of the country high.

And we won't let him go."

However, not all Olympic champions were able to attend the meeting with the president on Tuesday.

So, Alexander Bolshunov missed the event due to illness.

As coach Yuri Borodavko explained, the skier was unable to pass PCR tests on time and spend all 14 days in quarantine.

Also absent for various reasons were Anna Shcherbakova, Sergey Ustyugov, Tatyana Sorina, Yulia Stupak and Natalya Nepryaeva.

The first to appear in the Kremlin were the silver and bronze medalists of the Games.

They were congratulated by Russian presidential aide Igor Levitin and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

They presented the athletes with the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, I and II degrees, depending on the places taken in the competition.

According to figure skater Vladimir Morozov, the award once again reminded him of the feelings he experienced in Beijing.

“In the life of every athlete, an Olympic medal is the highest goal in sports.

Congratulations on these awards to all who are present here.

For some, this was the goal in life.

I thank all the management, the coaching staff, everyone who worked with us.

We have been waiting for this day for a long time, two months.

For us, this is an opportunity to once again remember the Beijing Olympics, to relive these emotions.

They are remembered, they overwhelm inside, ”said Morozov.

Chernyshenko, in turn, stressed that the whole country loves the Olympians and is proud of their achievements.

“We faced difficult conditions, but you, the athletes, were at the forefront before anyone else.

At the Games in Beijing, you won 32 medals, this is one of the best results in the history of modern Russia, for which I am very grateful to you.

We are doing everything so that you have the opportunity to train, not a single construction site has been stopped.

The government has prepared all the necessary decisions so that you still have the opportunity to compete at international competitions,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

Then the champions talked to Vladimir Putin.

In his speech, the President paid special attention to the results of Kamila Valieva, who found herself in the center of a doping scandal in Beijing.

“She absorbed all the most complex elements of figure skating, its plasticity, beauty, power and tenderness into her talent.

With her work, she brought sports to the height of a real art, such perfection cannot be achieved dishonestly with the help of some additional means, manipulations,” the head of state emphasized.

Then he awarded the athletes with the Orders of Honor and Friendship.

At the same time, each of them could turn to Putin and share their thoughts and emotions.

Veronika Stepanova prepared a patriotic speech for the event.

“I am the same age as the century, I was born in January 2001.

Before my eyes, Russia has again become strong, proud, and successful.

Not everyone in the world likes it, that's obvious.

But we are on the right track and we will definitely win, just like we won at the Olympics.

I am very proud that today I receive such a high award from our country's President.

Thank you very much for raising the banner of the country high.

And we will not let him down, I promise, ”said the athlete.

The rest of the Olympic champions thanked Putin for his help in preparing for the main start of the four years, and also spoke kind words to their coaches, parents and other specialists who helped achieve the goal.

Kamila Valieva admitted that she was especially pleased to visit the Kremlin and receive an award on her birthday.

She turned 16 on Tuesday.

“Thank you very much for loving sports and supporting athletes.

It is very important for us,” said the Olympic champion.

Then an informal conversation took place over a glass of champagne.

At the same time, for Camila, since she is a minor, soda was specially prepared.

"The commercialization of Olympism is the path to degradation"

Putin also addressed the rest of the athletes who came to the Kremlin, including Paralympic athletes who were unable to compete in Beijing.

In his speech, the president said that the suspension of Russians and Belarusians demonstrated the dependence of sport on sponsors and "money bags".

“In fact, under the guise of recommendations, real sanctions were introduced, and all this, unfortunately, shows further commercialization.

Because the dependence is very large on sponsors, on the moneybags of both the Paralympic and the Olympic movement.

And this dependence is commercial, and further commercialization of Paralympism and Olympism is, of course, the path to degradation.

Unfortunately," Putin said.

He also recalled that Russia constantly warned its partners against the use of double standards and principles of collective responsibility in sports, and called for it to be cleared of politics.

The President called it absurd the removal of swimmer Yevgeny Rylov from competitions for participating in a rally-concert at Luzhniki, and also turned to Olympic bronze medalist, snowboarder Vic Wild with a proposal to stay in the country and work with young people.

“I know that Victor announced his retirement from sports, but his knowledge and experience are very important for new, rising generations,” the head of state said.

Speaking about further steps in the development of sports, Putin noted the importance of holding all kinds of international tournaments.

“For Russia, there are no unfriendly countries in sports.

We are happy to welcome everyone who supports sports without discrimination and artificial restrictions.

For his ideals - the ideals of justice, equality and fair struggle," the president said.

On behalf of the Olympians, luger Tatyana Ivanova addressed Putin.

She thanked the head of state for his support and asked to actively develop sports in the regions. 

“On my own behalf, I would like to ask about the construction of another luge and bobsleigh track in Russia.

This is very important and necessary for our species,” explained the winner of the Beijing Games.

The importance of the development of sports infrastructure was also emphasized by the three-time Paralympic champion, Alpine skier Alexei Bugaev.

“Unfortunately, we are in dire need of sports facilities that are fully adapted for Paralympic athletes.

We have a huge country.

We can train and prepare in different climates, in different time zones, at any altitude.

We need to use this advantage, create different sports facilities in different regions of our country, and not travel abroad.

This will allow us to continue to develop the sport, in spite of any decisions and circumstances.

And also to support our competitiveness in the international arena, ”said the athlete.

Putin agreed that the country has everything necessary to achieve lofty goals.

In addition, according to the president, the Russians, going through difficulties, become stronger.

“We have absolutely obvious competitive advantages associated with the size of our country, with its scale, with different climatic zones, with the development of technology and the growing attention of the state to sports and athletes, to physical culture.

By your example, you inspire millions of people and force government agencies, officials at all levels to properly respond to the needs that arise in connection with your results and achieve new horizons together, including in sports,” the head of state said.

The Olympians left the Kremlin in good spirits.

As the biathlete Eduard Latypov admitted, he was glad to talk with everyone again.

“Of course, every memory of Beijing left a trace and a warm inner state.

You remember how you stood on a pedestal, immediately inside everything happens anew, it will remain for life.

These memories will always warm the soul.

Naturally, we also talked with our guys, since the season has already ended, and with guys from other sports.

Some we knew, some we just met today.

It is very nice to see all the champions in one place, you can share your emotions, experience, ”Match TV quotes Latypov as saying.