Russia is strengthening the vertical of sports power: “We won’t put pressure, changes are overdue”

The merger of federations in Russia began with gymnastics events, but all the words and assumptions about why and why everything is happening will now be repeated with each new merger. However, this is already a trend. Yesterday - gymnasts, tomorrow - water sports, ahead - skiing... In principle, the foreign world lives like this: related sports are under one roof.

The combination of all efforts should have a “cumulative effect and give a greater impetus to the development of gymnastic sports,” - for example, Oleg Matytsin, head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports, commented on the creation of the “first sign”, FGR, head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Culture and Sports.

If suddenly someone doesn’t know what this effect is, let’s clarify: the consequences of concentrating energy in one direction. Higher concentration, more energy, better results. Well, that’s what we say: you need to hit with your fist in order to hit it accurately.

First swallow

The head of Russian Railways, Oleg Belozerov, became the president of the United Gymnastics Federation of Russia on an uncontested basis. Information about his nomination for the post of President of the Russian Federation came from the Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyarev. The minister called the candidate an “experienced manager” and “a person who cares about sports,” clarifying that Russian Railways in general invests a lot in the development of social infrastructure, including sports.

Vasily Titov (who headed the FSGR federations before the merger), commenting on the upcoming elections, emphasized: “I think that now this is the right decision. Oleg Belozerov heads a large state corporation with great resources - both financial and organizational. This is important for the united federation.”

It was Vasily Titov who approached the federations with a proposal to merge. Calling the topic of unification perhaps new “for the public sphere,” Titov claims that it has been on the surface for a long time. The unification is an opportunity to bring the management structure of gymnastic sports in line with the international one. The International Gymnastics Federation (Titov himself is a member of the FIG executive committee) unites all types. But at the international level, the interests of all gymnastic disciplines in Russia have so far been represented by the Artistic Gymnastics Federation. The merger, the functionary is sure, will make it possible to reduce the costs associated with maintaining the administrative apparatus, “effectively control” funds from the gambling business, and help those who have difficulties with financing, since not everyone today has sponsors.

Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev is confident that the idea of ​​uniting all Russian gymnastics federations into one organization is relevant and overdue. Degtyarev also emphasizes that at the international level there is one international federation, and we have five. If management costs are reduced, this will allow additional funds to be allocated to “the development of children’s and youth sports and the training of reserves, and the development of new methods for training athletes.”

Federations that experienced a rather rapid merger—a little more than a month passed from the first proposal to the conference—are now waiting for a “road map”: what and how will happen in specifics. Even before the elections, Oleg Belozerov managed to hold meetings and trips to the places where athletes were trained. He stated that gymnastics is a sport that “instills consistency in people.” He showed his vision as a leader: “my task is to administratively help all organizations after the merger and create conditions for development.”

At the Krugloye Lake base, the then presidential candidate met with coaches and gymnastics management. Nikita Nagorny (the Olympic champion was elected vice-president at the conference), who was a participant in the meeting before the elections, talking about his impressions of its results, emphasized that the unification of federations will make it possible to create “one entry point.” And this will make it more effective and reveal the abilities of talented guys in all forms. Artistic gymnastics is the base, then the paths may diverge depending on the type. (In principle, this has always been the case, but perhaps the internal distribution system is not enough.)

At the FSGR reporting and election conference, where the official birth of the united gymnastics federation took place, the following presidents of the federations resigned their powers: the head of the All-Russian Federation of Rhythmic Gymnastics Irina Viner, the president of the Russian Artistic Gymnastics Federation Vasily Titov, the head of the Russian Trampoline Federation Nikolai Makarov, the president of the All-Russian Sports Federation aerobics Marianna Maslennikova and the Russian Federation of Sports Acrobatics Nikita Nikitin. Oleg Belozerov was elected president of the FGR unanimously.

After his election, the first ever head of the FGR said that the unification of five sports is the most important element so that it is possible to interact directly with the FIG and the IOC. And today it is important to look at “what elements, despite illegal sanctions, can be implemented in the international arena.” Oleg Belozerov said that “we will make every effort to return to both the Olympic movement and the European one.” And in the event that “illegal sanctions continue,” we will develop other formats with those with whom we have good relations, meaning the club and BRICS Games, and any possible options, in order to maintain “a good competitive spirit at a high level "

The best developments of previously separate federations must be “retransmitted between sports in order to create better analogues.” The main principle of all work will be “do no harm, move forward and support our wonderful champions.”

By the way, Irina Viner, for example, considers Belozerov’s trump card to be the fact that the president has never been seen in contact with the gymnastics world: “He does not belong to any gymnastic sport, I think this will give him the opportunity to work independently.”

At the first meeting of the presidium, the first vice-president was elected, this post was taken by Vasily Titov, and vice-presidents for sports: Nikita Nagorny - from artistic gymnastics, Olga Kapranova - rhythmic gymnastics, Nikolai Makarov - trampolining, Irina Nikitina - sports acrobatics , Vladislav Oskner - sports aerobics. A presidium bureau has been formed, consisting of the president, first vice-president and five vice-presidents.

Water without discrimination

On the day of the creation of the unified Russian Gymnastics Federation, aquatic sports decided not to stand aside. President of the All-Russian Swimming Federation Vladimir Salnikov said that four aquatics federations will merge into one. The corresponding proposal was made by the WFTU; it was voiced at its presidium the day before and supported by representatives of other aquatics federations. The new federation will include the swimming, diving, water polo, and synchronized swimming federations of Russia.

And here, from decision to execution, there is also a month of “training” and the nomination of a candidate for the main position. Elections for the post of head of the united federation will be held on October 31. And the association will “correspond to the international trend” and help interaction, since World Aquatics is a single federation for aquatic species.

The merging of efforts and capabilities, according to the president of the diving federation Stanislav Druzhinin, should lead to tangible managerial and financial effects: reducing costs, increasing the sponsorship program, optimizing the use of training facilities. Even drawing up a unified calendar plan, Druzhinin is sure, will become simpler and more understandable. But “all necessary decisions must be made to prevent discrimination against one sport or another,” each of which is at a good level of development, with its own potential, popularity and demand.

The unification of sports federations in aquatic sports could become a “logical continuation of the integration process” that began after the unification of gymnastics federations, the press service of the Russian Ministry of Sports quotes Salnikov. And Mikhail Degtyarev said even more simply: “The unification of water sports federations will be useful in terms of pooling resources and improving controllability.”

Well, if these words seem vague to someone, then here are a few more, the Minister of Sports said them at the Tuesday plenary session of the forum “Gambling: contributions to sports.” That strengthening the vertical of power in sports is a task set by the president. Recalling that “at these moments” a conference is being held on the unification of the Russian Gymnastics Federation, and a decision has just been made to merge aquatic sports into one federation, the minister stated: “from today the process has begun.”

Ski federations have not yet announced anything, but they too may soon follow in the footsteps of gymnasts and representatives of aquatic sports. Today we have a federation of cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined, freestyle and snowboarding; by the way, they are united in the Russian Ski Sports Association. Degtyarev clarifies: it’s all about initiative. If the initiative comes from federations, “we support, but we will not put pressure.” True, this is already the “spirit of the times” - to unite. And one more thing: “changes are overdue in both skiing and rowing.”