Legendary wrestler Salman Khasimikov spoke about the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games

But even among the “protesters” there are troublemakers inciting Lausanne to finally “boycott” the Russians. That is, not allowed to the Olympics in Paris at all. Otherwise, they reserve the right to boycott the Games themselves.

This was recently stated by Edgar Rinkevich, the President of Latvia. Probably with a European audience in mind. What if some of his continental neighbors join his manifesto? So far, however, there is no particular solidarity visible – the Europeans turned out to be not as radical as the “hot Latvian guys”.

Edgar Anatolyevich is a well-known supporter of “European values”, persecuted for his, to put it mildly, unconventional beliefs, and could show tolerance. But, come on, he jumps out of his pants above everyone else, demanding harsh measures for athletes. Although even Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC, admitted in a recent interview that athletes cannot be punished for the actions of individual functionaries.

Not long ago, a meeting of the NOC of Russia took place in Moscow, which brought together representatives from all regions. The head of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, Oleg Matytsin, did not develop the topic of renegade neighbors and called for focusing on the future of domestic sports. “This is the number one task facing everyone,” Oleg Matytsin summed up his speech. “The main thing is to think about our athletes, our coaches, and the development of sports in the regions.”

I would add: not just think, but actually practice. Especially in regions where there are many talented young people, charged with success, but deprived of other opportunities for growth. And today’s leaders think so broadly and grandly that they simply don’t get around to boring and everyday affairs in their native country. But this is not a reproach to the current head of the Ministry of Sports, in any case. On the contrary, Oleg Vasilyevich can only be praised for focusing attention on such a painful topic.

It’s a pity it’s a little late – it seems to us that he was thirty years late with his theses… After many stadiums, gyms, football, hockey fields and other state facilities passed into private hands.

Russian sport has long ceased to be a mass sport. Because almost everything in it was transferred to a commercial basis. But today not everyone can afford a paid section for a child. Especially in sports such as football, figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics, hockey or tennis. That is why there is no selection of talented youth.

It may seem that all this is not related to the Olympic topic under discussion. In fact, it does, and it’s the most direct. Any children’s coach will tell you this – though, most likely, on condition of anonymity, so as not to lose his job. For example, about how training and selection in children’s and youth sports is organized, who is promoted first, what factors influence this – the abilities and talents of the child, the wallets or status of their parents…

It so happens that I often visit the capital’s Oktyabr stadium, which is located in the picturesque Serebryany Bor forest. Thousands of teenagers here play different sports. There are open football fields, various sections, physical education and health groups, martial arts halls, boxing rings, and a huge swimming pool open all year round. From early morning until late at night, the voices of young athletes or their friends who come to cheer for them can be heard throughout the area.

Recently, some Russian schools have been plagued by violent fights and beatings, even among girls. But in and around the stadium I have never seen any conflict or fights among young people for many years. Because during physical exercise, everyone throws out their emotions and energy, receiving a good mood in return.

Anyone could notice: on the football field, volleyball court, wrestling mat or in the ring with each other, children are quite friendly. Even after heated arguments or competitions. Over the years of joint activities, any differences between them are erased and normal human relationships develop. Therefore, at the stadium you can meet in the same company native Muscovites, bearded Caucasians, guests from Central Asia, and even representatives of sunny Africa.

In his book “You Come to the Mat,” the legendary Ivan Yarygin fascinatingly talks about the life of Soviet freestyle wrestlers of different nationalities, with whom he maintained friendship until his last days. In memory of the outstanding Olympian, a monument was even erected in the Stavropol Territory: “To Ivan Yarygin – a Russian hero from the Dagestanis.”

Relationships or friendships between athletes are built not on interests, but on the personal qualities and dignity of each. Today, these traditions are almost gone along with the veterans of Soviet sports, bearers of that very institution of “sports kunachestvo”. But we need to return to them, starting with the regions, as the Minister of Sports correctly noted.

The “First Glove” boxing club has been operating on the territory of the sports complex for two decades, where anyone can come. Its founders were Honored Masters of Sports of the Russian Federation Vitaly Kachanovsky and Ramzan Sebiev. Over the past twenty years, many masters of sports, winners of international tournaments and Russian championships have emerged from here.

Sometimes real sports stars come in – Olympic Games champion in Seoul Alexander Lebzyak, world boxing championship winner Andrei Kurnyavka, multiple world and European sambo champion Vladimir Yaprintsev, former member of the USSR national freestyle wrestler Zaurmakan Umayev, USSR table tennis champion Manakhim Manakhimov and many others. That is, the boxing club has turned into an unofficial center of communication, a meeting place for honored veterans of the sport who have managed to maintain friendly ties, despite the hard decades. Even in the most difficult life circumstances, they did not lose their former warmth and respect for each other, as old friendship obliges.

Recently, a group of athletes from Yerevan and Nagorno-Karabakh came to the club along with their coaches – former teammates on the national team. And at this moment, Sebiev receives a call from fellow boxers from Azerbaijan.

– Ramzan, we are in Moscow. We would like to come to your club!

He answers calmly.

– Of course, come in. Our mutual friends just arrived – six boxers from Armenia. Who will reconcile you if not me?

In another company, they might not have understood the joke. But here everyone laughed together and even conveyed mutual greetings through Ramzan.

Of course, they are not ready to date yet, but who knows – time will pass, and this episode will help them take the next step towards. At least they’ll shake hands. That’s for sure.

All of them once became friends through sports. Many now have children and grandchildren who also know that their father or grandfather has friends – Russians, Jews, Uzbeks, Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, Yakuts, Ossetians, Karachais, Circassians, Ingush, Chechens… Including abroad, with whom not met once on the carpet or in the hall. This is what it is – the sport that is the world!

So Oleg Matytsin was right when he proposed returning to the problems of domestic sports, especially in the regions, without trying to put pressure on the IOC. Despite the fervor and zeal of some politicians, the question of participation in the Olympic Games under the Russian flag and with the anthem remains open. Everything can change if the situation in the Ukrainian direction normalizes. In a word, the intrigue remains.

It is interesting to listen to the opinion of the titled wrestler, four-time world champion in the heavyweight category Salman Khasimikov, who was the captain of the USSR freestyle wrestling team for ten years. Had every chance to take part in three Olympics in a row. But twice on the eve of important competitions he was seriously injured, and for the third time the Soviet team refused to go to the Games in Los Angeles (1984, USA), declaring a political boycott of the Americans.

“Nobody canceled the parade of nations that opens and closes the Olympic Games,” says Salman Alkhazurovich. — When you walk with a banner around the Olympic circle or stand on a pedestal, you feel especially proud of your country – it’s an indescribable feeling!

He is deeply convinced that there is a deep implication hidden in the reluctance to allow Russians in – to tear the young men and women, who are the pride and dignity of the people, from their roots. So that they enter the stadium purely for commercial reasons, abandoning state symbols and other national attributes. That is, they would lose their sense of belonging to their country.

When you are invited to perform without a flag and without an anthem, the motivation is different, the attitude is different, the energy is different. If you take away all this, then the results will be different, not to mention the judging. At the first opportunity they will try to sue and not give the grades that the guys deserve. Because there is no one to protect them. The country must stand behind the person.

“I didn’t go then and I don’t regret it at all,” continues Salman Khasimikov. “And I wouldn’t go now.” Because I want to bring results to my country, not to myself.

I would like these words to be heard and understood by everyone: athletes vying for a place in the national team, functionaries, politicians, and fans.