Alexei Grom: "The football project unites our countries no less than railways"

Today, the international youth football tournament UTLC Cup - Young Eurasian Stars 2018 kicks off in Moscow. The organizers of the tournament are JSC Russian Railways and FC Lokomotiv, as well as JSC United Transport and Logistics Company - Eurasian Rail Alliance. Vestnik Kavkaza spoke with the company’s president Alexei Grom about the tournament and the Eurasian railways.

- How did the idea of the tournament originate?

- The idea of the tournament originated last year. Together with FC Lokomotiv, our shareholders, JSC Russian Railways, Kazakhstan Railways, Belarusian Railways, we were looking for such a social project that would unite our countries in the same way as the railways unite them. In my opinion, we found a great format - we agreed with FC Lokomotiv to organize such a tournament. Six teams came from different parts of Eurasia, including grandees of the European football, for example, the Portuguese professional football club from Lisbon, Benfica. For the first time, the Chinese team Zhejiang Greentown arrived in Russia. We quickly agreed with everyone and decided to hold this tournament on a regular basis.

This year’s tournament is the second one. Eight teams came to participate in it, including from Europe, China, and Japan. Everything is possible when you pay due attention to it and everyone is included in the process!

- Do you have plans for the next year?

- The value of the tournament is an opportunity to hold it on a regular basis. The main thing is to maintain the same level and quality of this tournament, to invite great teams, European grandees. I do hope that our partners in the tournament, our shareholders will support it as much as we do. Next year, maybe even more teams will participate in the tournament. The tournament professionals are involved in the process, we rely on their long-term experience. For our part, we will do everything possible that depends on us to ensure this tournament to become a football holiday not only for the participants but also for the spectators who come to see the future football stars. The football holiday in our country continues.

 - Do only the youth teams participate?

- The 14-year-old players participate. We chose this age intentionally. This is a youth tournament, but, say, the previous year, several players who are already in the draft of the first-class European teams came to the tournament. This, of course, reinforces the interest in the tournament. Some people came to look at specific teams, some- at the players. The football schools of Asian and European teams have different styles and traditions, but they have one thing in common - everyone wants to win and receive the cup. In addition, we arrange a cultural program for the tournament participants so that they have an opportunity to know better our country and our city, fall in love with it and come again.

- Do you plan to increase the number of participants, involve other countries?

- We do not mind. But we also need to understand that football schools have their own schedules, so it's difficult to find time in the off-season in the football schools of different countries in order to attract teams for this tournament. I repeat, the key role in the organization of the tournament is played by FC Lokomotiv, whose European and global authority allows organizing these tournaments with a set of well-known participants.

- Will the tournaments be held in Moscow or are they planned in other cities and countries too?

- So far, in Moscow. It is difficult to imagine a better venue for the tournament than the stadium in Cherkizovo. This year we are planning to hold the play off match at the Russian Railways Arena. Maybe in the future, we will have some new venues. The tournament is still very young, and we are gaining strength and experience.

- Aside from football, do your company cooperate with the countries of the South Caucasus?

- We try to cooperate with all countries where the railway passes. Especially with the countries of the former Soviet Union as we are united by a common 1520 mm track gauge. In general, on the Eurasian continent, the railway industry remains one of the key industries on which people’s well-being depends. We say - where the railway develops, life develops. We have joint projects with companies and railways of the countries of the South Caucasus. It is impossible to draw boundaries on our railway space and clearly delineate where exactly we work. We received our common Eurasian railway network as the greatest wealth from our father and grandfathers, and it should be used optimally and most effectively. That is why we need to interact actively.

- What is the level of cooperation with Azerbaijan?

- One of the routes of the Eurasian railway passes through Azerbaijan. There are many ways to deliver goods from China to Europe and from Europe to China, and one of such key routes passes through Azerbaijan. We try to exchange experience, take something new from our Caucasian partners and business colleagues. We offer our services, we share competences. The railway partnership and interaction on the 1520 mm track gauge is something totally unique, there are practically no borders. Railwaymen in our countries communicate in one language and understand that integration processes are the basis of our bright future. This was always that way. I am sure that this will be the same way from now on.