Technology sometimes fails, but athletes don’t. Before the opening of an important meeting, the organizers failed to play the Russian anthem. Yes and it’s not necessary! All the athletes gathered in the hall heard the anthem of our country more than once in honor of their victories. A few times, several times. They took it and started singing. Without command, without embarrassment, without looking back. And the whole room picked it up. For me, it is symbolic: we came here to act.
This week, hundreds of participants in the International Forum “Russia – a Sports Power” gathered in Ufa.
As stated in the official document, “the platform brings together representatives of government authorities, athletes, businesses and media for an in-depth discussion on key issues, decisions and future plans for the development of the sports industry” . Simply put, it’s a place where athletes can meet people who donate money to the sport and try to convince them that their sport is the best. And explain why.
One more detail. The sponsor dressed us, the invited athletes, in gray tracksuits. Probably to better contrast with the strict black suits of businessmen and civil servants. But many also saw symbolism in it. Yes, Russian professional sport is not the best of colors. In most sports, the main producer and customer is the state. This has always been the case, under the USSR as well as today. The state invested in us from childhood – and we had to win on the international stage. The whole system was built according to a simple formula: selected for the junior team – entered the main team – won medals at the World Championships or Olympics – that’s it, sports life was successful . I have completed these steps as an external student in three years and I know what I am talking about.
Now, everyone seems frozen in waiting: the national teams still exist, it seems, not a single one has been disbanded. But the competitions for which they are preparing are not very clear. Transitional period, gray area.
I have never understood why national teams exist thanks to public money in sports where Russia has not won a single medal since 1991. But in our ski racing the situation is different. I said it loud and clear before the Olympics and I say it now: the Russian team is the strongest in the world. We have the best selection, the best coaches who know how to “polish talent”. Vyalbe is a captain who confidently “solves” all problems and conflicts from his bridge. The problem is that our mighty ship has been in port for three years. There is no longer much hope that some uncles from faraway Switzerland will suddenly allow him to go to sea. In any case, not at my sporting age – and I am the youngest of our “Beijing generation”.
And you shouldn’t hope. There is something deeply humiliating about waiting for someone to come to their senses and “allow” us to do something again. We must organize our own future, without any regard for the IOC and the international federations, with them everything is already clear. But to do this, we need to solve the most important question: how to make money.
Everyone involved in the sport will have to learn to live in a new way. The Ministry of Sports now focuses mainly on grassroots sports. I don’t think there is a “collector” in any sport who would dare to object out loud: “Give me money for training camp, rather than for a sports town in the park, which around a hundred people will use.” But the choice is pretty much the same.
Go to this park on the weekend. For a more or less professional skier, there are around fifty Nordic walking enthusiasts. And this is even if we count skiers with veterans who stubbornly “saw circles” of uneven asphalt on old roller skates. What would you build if you were mayor of the city: a fitness trail for walking or a roller ski slope that needs to be constantly cleaned and repaired?
Especially for those who still have illusions about a return to a clear and comfortable past: professional sport in our country will now exist largely thanks to the money of bookmakers and sponsors. Both are available for athlete communication at the Ufa forum. I don’t miss the opportunity to discuss with them and “get ideas moving”. And here’s what I will say based on the results of the conversation: It won’t be easy for all of us athletes. The state wanted victories, but also forgave “strong eighth” (or other?) places. No one used the foreign word KPI. And now I can’t live without him. Sponsors are not interested in anything other than the pedestal. And bookmakers want the most unpredictable competitions to take place in places where they can arrange high-quality television coverage. And it doesn’t matter what sport you bet on.
The head of Russian basketball, Andrei Kirilenko, recently revealed in an interview how the budget of his federation works: sponsors – about 40% of the total amount, targeted contributions from bookmakers – another 40%, contributions from teams for the Championship of Russia – about 20%. This seems like the perfect proportion. All that remains is to find such sponsors and organize teams. I think it’s possible. Who said: “I firmly believe in luck and I have discovered that the more I work, the more I have”?
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Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
