After the Olympics in Vancouver drew to a close, the Sochi Mayor received the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony of the 21st Winter Games. Sportsmen are awaiting analysis of their performance and look forward to the preparations for the next Olympics. President Dmitry Medvedev outlined specific steps in this respect:
"We surely need to start preparations for the Sochi Games right away, the President says. But given the Vancouver events, we have to alter the training system drastically. The Soviet school has been already lost and our own one hasn't been created yet, despite large amounts of money allocated by the government. Sportsmen, who exert every effort to achieve success, should have primacy, and not federations and their heads, and even coaches, with due respect for them".
The President has made it clear in his statement that some officials have to submit their resignation and pointed out the need for the sportsmen to compose themselves and move forward, considering the mistakes made in Vancouver:
"The main thing at present is the preparation for the Sochi Olympic Games in 2014 and we should put all efforts into this, Dmitry Medvedev believes. All our negative emotions should be left behind not to impede the advance".
Vancouver has provided all Russians with a lesson as regards both the sportsmen's capabilities and events preparations. This-year Olympics were the first among others in the disorganization rate, which provides a good chance for the Sochi team to take account of all mistakes at the Canadian Games, says the vice-speaker at the Legislative Assembly of the Krasnodar Region Akhmed Bilalov:
"Those who haven't ever experienced the bitterness of defeat, won't enjoy the taste of victory, Akhmed Bilalov said. Vancouver events are a good lesson for both coaches and sportsmen, who will have to be self-collected when performing in Sochi to show better results".
With its giant Olympic experience and traditions, Russia is obviously capable of providing the necessary conditions to train future champions. It is time to join efforts and get ready for the Sochi Winter Olympics within four years.
Please rate: