The festive week of the 25th anniversary of the site and the 101st anniversary of the publication itself has passed. But we continue to make gifts to our dear reader. Today we present to you the author’s column of Match TV commentator Dmitry Guberniev under the intriguing title “It’s boring without Fak”. Once every two weeks, the leading voice of Russian sports will burn with a verb and share his opinion on key events.
And it turned out so well that we started with a discussion on a topic that could become a marker of everything that will happen to the national sport in the coming years. We will talk about a possible invitation to the Russians to participate in the Asian Summer Games, which will be held in September 2023.
“There is an opportunity to act, you have to go!”
Regarding the Asian Games, we only use reliable information sources. And at the moment, as explained by Stanislav Pozdnyakov (Chairman of the Russian Olympic Committee. – Approx. “Soviet Sport”), no invitations have been received. Perhaps this is because sometimes the holidays and many of those who make the decision are not in Moscow. Therefore, Stanislav Alekseevich is a little cautious. But we take you at your word.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
If we speculate that such a proposal exists, what does it give us? You should go? Certainly yes. If there’s an opportunity to perform somewhere, you have to go.
The next question is in what capacity. Let’s say it doesn’t count. Does this mean that even if our athlete wins the individual competition, others will be on the podium? Here are some who say it’s a humiliation to fly a neutral flag. But wouldn’t that be a humiliation? I’m not arguing, I’m asking a question. We are in sports so we are all kinds of processes that we have to hold on to at any opportunity. And maybe even spit on your own pride.
Will it help us get to the Olympics? seeing who. Athletes representing the Russian team will not go to the Olympics by definition, because they belong to law enforcement. How do they qualify for the Olympics? No way. Imagine what everyone will experience: Let’s say you make it to the final, but you can’t stand on the podium. And vice versa. Here’s a certain Japanese guy who doesn’t make it to the final because of a Russian athlete who seems to be out of the rankings.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
“There will be questions about doping – we will get an iron ban”
It is possible to present a solution to this question on our part only if all these questions are answered for us. But will they respond? Will there be any pitfalls in this or that sport? And to think that through these games we will reach the Olympic Games is not very reasonable. I don’t think we’re going anywhere.
And another important question: is everything in order with the test pool? Have all the people we have now been subjected to doping tests? If we now send 500 people to the Asian Games and someone else has questions about doping, it will be an additional iron ban. Even though we haven’t erased the old stories yet.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
And if this happens, we will not only find ourselves in a difficult situation, but we will find ourselves in a complete asshole, let’s call things by their names. Sooner or later, we will return, without a doubt. But we must be aware that we must return immaculately clean, in terms of doping. This is simply the default, since in a second we will be able to remember all past sins.
“The generation that did not act under the Russian flag”
But the very absence of competition is fatal. Imagine, a whole generation of people has grown up in athletics who have never competed under the Russian flag! And there are not a few athletes who did not compete, but rather an entire generation. Right now people are doing athletics, what are your guidelines? I’m a father, let’s say I have a son doing long jumps there. For me there will be reasonable questions: why, for what and for whom, to fight for what? We haven’t been anywhere for many years, and not the last year and a half.
Photo source: RIA Novosti
Now life is passing. That is why I support the decision of the MATCH TV channel, which broadcasts the Ice Hockey World Championship. We have already missed two of them, the ski World Cup stages, now there will be a world championship in water sports. This is very important, not only for elite sports, but also for young people. There must be guidelines. In any case, we are missing something. The swimmers will have the second world championship, which we will not go to. The World Championships in Aquatics is like the World Championships in Athletics: the number one tournament.
Here in Poland the European Games were held, which were transformed, there was a youth movement. Sports Europe made a lot of noise, but we don’t know anything about it. In fact, it is time for us to get rid of the state of mind when we say “they are worse without us.” No. They quietly crossed us out and continue to develop without us. The main thing is to take care of yourself and not constantly shout that the World Hockey Championship without Russians is not interesting. Tell that to the Latvians who won the bronze.
“International Federations are a Fiction”
Of course, the NHL does not get rid of the Russians. And why should they? The Norwegian handball team does not reject Vyakhireva either. This is a private business. Here we are talking about the fact that the government of certain countries cannot influence the UFC and the NHL in this way. Yes, the same Norway, which does not give us any visa, calmly lets Anna in, concludes a contract with her. Here you can only be happy for her, she is the best athlete. With Vyakhireva it’s one team, without her it’s a completely different one.
Photo source: EHF
It is clear that the principle of double standards exists. I’m talking about the Norwegians, who did not give visas to children’s oncologists for a big conference and an athlete, please. But this is their business, they have the right to decide for themselves. I always say that international federation admissions are fiction. What is the point? Yes, they allowed us, but a separate country that holds competitions, no. They will simply deny visas to our athletes and we will do nothing.
It is important here not to wait for something good to happen, but to conduct competitions ourselves. But in any case, we are regressing, every day we regress more and more, but this must be minimized. You have to work with your sleeves rolled up and not get discouraged.
