“There is no need to attack Zagitova, people simply do not understand the meaning of a subsidy for the show” – Averbukh

Olympic silver medalist in figure skating Ilya Averbukh believes that the criticism is directed against Alina Zagitova In connection with the demand for almost 75 million rubles to organize the show, it is untenable, the public does not understand the mechanism of obtaining these funds.

Previously, information appeared on the website of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives that Zagitova applied for a grant for the implementation of the Scarlet Sails ice show, which is planned for 2025 and is planned to be held in St. Petersburg. The requested amount is 74,798,618 rubles; no co-financing and no other investments are provided.

— I think negativity appears, among other things, when they write about me and Tatiana Navka. Therefore, in the story with Zagitova you must be absolutely honest. The fact is that there is not enough information, and this is our common problem. In the ordinary mind, a state subsidy is when you show up at a certain office, they send you 75 to 100 million in cash, and you can do whatever you want with that money. Of course, people are disgusted by such an image.

But in fact, everything is not like that. This money helps put on the show, but it goes directly to the entrepreneurs who create the show. For example, directly to the administration of the palace rented for the event, directly to the company involved in lighting equipment, directly to decorators, etc. That’s all the money you don’t see, even if it minimizes the spending part. And, most importantly, every penny of that money counts. As a result, the money mostly stays within the state. At the same time, they can expand the sports audience. Our shows have a great social dimension. So there is no need to reason in a philistine way: “here they gave him, he sits.” This is not true at all.

— Is 75 million rubles enough to organize a quality show?

— A significant extra-budgetary budget would still be required. To my knowledge, this is the largest amount requested from the Cultural Initiatives Fund. As you know, I have been implementing a project in Sochi for several years thanks to the foundation. Zhenya Plushenko and Tatyana Navka also have their own projects and initiatives. There is no need to rush to Alina. A team is being formed around her that will help her organize the show, ”Averbukh told a correspondent.

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