Irina Rodnina: "You will not hear such clean and beautiful Russian speech anywhere else than Baku"

By Vestnik Kavkaza 

The presentation of the first European Games 'Baku-2015' took place yesterday in Moscow. During the presentation, 'Vestnik Kavkaza' talked with stars of stage and sport about the upcoming sports festival in the capital of Azerbaijan. All were unanimous in their opinion that the venue of the first Euro Games was chosen correctly. The legendary Soviet figure skater, three-time Olympic champion, ten-time world champion, a member of the Duma Committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots, Irina Rodnina, thinks so too. 

- Irina Konstantinova, how well do you know pre-Olympic Baku? 

- I can only say how sports facilities look from the side. I wasn’t in Baku in order to check the availability, but I see that the readiness is pretty high. I was there somewhere about four months ago. Even then, it was clear that the Games will take place at a very high level. This is evidenced by the level of responsibility with which Baku and Azerbaijan are preparing for all sports events. It will be interesting. There will be many guests. People are discovering new countries for themselves, in terms of sports and in terms of the conduction of major events, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan are all preparing for Asian Games now. I think everything will be fine. 

- Are you planning to visit the Games? 

- I am still afraid to make any plans. I'm more interested in winter sports, but I think that it will still be very interesting and exciting in Baku. 

- How often do you visit the Caucasus? 

- It happens because of work, because I'm working in the committee on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots of the State Duma. Therefore, Baku, Yerevan, as well as Kazakhstan, Ashgabat, Dushanbe - this is my job. 

- How do you assess the current stage of Russian-Azerbaijani relations? 

- It seems to me that they are consistently good. No sharp ups or downs. Because there is confidence in the leaders of the states, there is the trust of the people. I like the fact that a very strong Russian university is working in Baku. I will say honestly, you won’t hear such clean and beautiful Russian speech anywhere else than Baku. The traditions are very good. Everything that I saw there was great. Very friendly people. We have interesting, necessary meetings, conversations, at the level of deputies. So I think that everything is stable here.