Interviewed by Vladimir Nesterov. Especially for Vestnik Kavkaza
- In the current difficult economic conditions, probably, the cost of sport goes by the wayside. Would that make all that has been conceived, mortgaged, achieved, end up without adequate funding?
- We are talking about priorities. Even in a difficult time, people invest in where there are prospects. I'm a politician with experience, I interact with people, young people, meeting with people, when there are a lot of questions about pensions, about medical support. Ask parents, grandparents: "My child is a drug addict, an alcoholic, it's a family problem, a major pain of society?" In this regard, the only alternative is to engage children in sports. 10 years ago we conducted scientific researches and found that in 12 years a child who is systematically involved in sports is immune to all stimulant medications. Therefore, you ask grandparents, dads, moms a question: "Will we build a prison for minors, drug clinics and have an enormous tension in society, including those related to demographics and so on, or will we build and develop sport? The answer is simple. Therefore, the priorities are quite obvious. Also, we need to develop the economy, we need to be able to defend ourselves. And sick people cannot build a healthy economy, sick people will not be able to defend the country.
- The health of the nation – is it a matter of national security?
- Yes! Take China, for example. There are no problems with demographics, but they "dragged" the Olympics to themselves in 2008, and won it. They raise the character of the nation through sport. They build sports schools everywhere. The same occurs in North America. It was so in the Soviet Union. After the war, the economy recovered, stadiums were built, the TRP complex was implemented. Physical and spiritual development is accompanied by a healthy lifestyle. There is no other way to lift the mood and spirit of the country.
- We're going back to the norms of the TRP. You were the initiator of this project ...
- In the early 2000s, we discussed this topic at the presidential council. At the time, patriotism wasn't taken as something very serious, especially in the media. We lost almost a decade. But in one of the regions of the Russian Federation in 2006 we conducted an experiment - in the span of a year we tested children. The numbers were horrific at the time. By the standards of TRP, only 40% were able to pass - no motor skills, children could not even run. Defense Ministry data were generally disappointing - only 1 in 10 recruits was physically ready to serve his country. We must now invest in sport, seek opportunities, do everything so that business can help, private-government partnership develop. While we cannot find a tool that would allow businesses to invest safely in this infrastructure.
- How much in demand have the Olympic facilities in Sochi been in the post-Olympic period? Over time, won't they become like the gorgeous Olympic Complex in Athens, which almost fell into neglect after the 2004 Olympics?
- We have the experience of the 1980 Olympic Games. So far, all the facilities are still working. The local authorities are trying to fill those objects, give them a chance not to fall apart. We tried to go to Sochi with my wife and daughter this year, go to a mountain cluster, but before March no rooms were available. People are curious to see what the Olympic venues are, how they actually look. Clearly, this requires a high level of service that will allow people to return. Today there is interest in seeing, in diving into this atmosphere, and on the other hand, if you come and have something to compare it with, and the service does not correspond to world class, then it is a problem for the people out there who organize the whole business. We understand that the bobsled track, the ski jumps - this is the place where our athletes will train, including the young. At one time, we laid the idea of creating centers for the best sportsmen of the country exactly where tge modern infrastructure is. In terms of the sports component, of course, Sochi will always be in demand, and due to the constant exploitation, the facilities will be in good condition. Everything that is connected with tourism refers to the organizational abilities of those who organize the rest, food, accommodation and transport there.
- This year, for the first time, the European Games will be held. They will be held in Baku, a year before the Summer Olympics. Your opinion on these games: is such a rehearsal needed for athletes or are European championships and some other championships in sports enough?
- This is a trial balloon. I was in Baku last year after a six-year break and was glad for friends. I saw another city, went as an enthusiastic tourist, photographed. The awesome seafront, unique architectural solutions in terms of construction of new buildings. I am delighted with Baku. Naturally, the Minister of Sport and Olympic Committee President dropped me in that atmosphere. I went to the facilities under construction and already constructed, and I can say that everything is modern and beautiful. The football stadium is stunning. When I heard the price, i was glad too, knowing what money we spent to build our football stadium. In Baku, it is much cheaper, and the quality there is the highest. It was difficult to coordinate all these sports, because there are European Championships and World Championships, the World Cup stage, everything that has to do with the international calendar, but Baku has received support from the IOC, and the largest international federations. And for some sports even, the winners will qualify for the Olympic Games in Brazil. I talked to the guys who were the heads of the organizing committee, the British. They have the experience of the London Olympics. For them it is very important in terms of image - to hold, organize, get organizational experience. I think this is the first step. Probably, the next application will be a big Olympic Games. Everything will depend on how the European Games will be held, whether the confidence will come with it. The great desire. The hospitality, weather, people's desire to show a new Azerbaijan, a new Baku, will make the athletes and everyone else who will come to the EuroGames fall in love with it.
- By the way, before you is a book "Splashes of Pomegranate", a collection of photographs of history faculty students who went to the Caucasus and brought their photographs from there. The pomegranate is a symbol of the European Summer Games in Baku. Such games a year before the Olympics, are they necessary as some kind of rehearsal, and for the athletes as a morale preparation?
- Firstly, there is a very interesting magazine, or catalogue, as it is indicated here. I plunged into the atmosphere of Baku, a very hospitable city. About the competition – there is a four-year cycle, which plans to bring athletes at the peak of their physical and psychological form for the start of the Olympic Games. For someone, maybe it is a step in preparation for the launch, for someone else it's an element of training. If vouchers are played, this level must be very serious in terms of athletes training. I am sure that the level of competition is high, and the experience of Baku will be reviewed and summarized.
- Does it make sense to organize such thing as a European Winter Games? It looks like a 'younger sister' of the Olympics. It is no secret that the European games are organized primarily by the European Olympic Committee.
- There is no younger or older, the Olympic title is one for life, this is the only title that in no way has the prefix "ex". You become an Olympic champion once and for all. There are many competitions of all sorts now: youth sports, and pan-European, Pan American, pan-Australian, a lot of things are going on and, of course, the IOC wants to structure this complex mechanism. For someone, more competition is better and someone already has a certain algorithm. I think the experts and international leaders in sports will give their assessment, and on that, the further fate of European games will be built.
- You were talking about your visit to Baku. Where else have you been in the Caucasus?
- Many places.
- What places do you remember, particularly liked?
- We travelled to South Ossetia quite often in my youth, to Tskhinvali, we have a lot of friends, of course, on the way to Tbilisi.
