KOZLOV NOT WORRIED ABOUT RUSSIA’S FUTURE IN VANCOUVER

The two-time Stanley Cup winner Vyacheslav Kozlov gave an interview to Sport Express.

The 37-year-old veteran of the Russian hockey, two-time Stanley Cup winner talked to Sport Express ahead of the Olympic Games after he has not been included even to preliminary roster of the Russian national team.

"You know, I am not worried about the fate of the Russian team in Vancouver", said Kozlov. "Everybody knows that we will have our strongest players, who will produce a formidable performance at the Olympics".

"NHL regular championship is the tournament, where everything could happen every day, for example players could get injured".

"But the head coach of the Russian side has a lot of candidates to the post number one. I am sure that our goalkeepers’ line will be very strong anyway".

"Alexandr Ovechkin fights in every game and I think that layers should always do their best on the ice, no matter in which competition – the Olympic Games or regular season".

"I am not ready to say that Russian and Canada will meet in the final match, since one game could decide everything. Of course I would like to see Russia in the final, but who knows maybe Canada won’t reach the final. A lot of strong teams will compete in Vancouver and all of them have chances for victory. Canada has many good goalkeepers, and Brodeur and Luongo".

"Antero Niittymaki is the main candidate to be the first-choice goalkeeper of Finnish team in Vancouver. He outplayed Russian side fur years ago in Torino and beat Atlanta 15 times in a row".

"All goalkeepers have their weak sides, and I think that if Finland has Kari Lehtonen in the goal, it would have be the reason for concern".

"I like big goalies, and Lehtonen is stronger and bigger than Niittymaki, so I don’t see any serious threat to the Russian players from the side of this goaltender".

"Atlanta main goalie Ondrej Pavelec is number three candidate for a place in the goal of Czech team. He is young and it’s his first season in NHL. Now he plays successfully, but experience is very important at the Olympic Games, because everything could happen there".

"I saw many times how goalkeepers make mistakes at the crucial moments of the games. So I want to wish him good luck".

 http://english.sport-express.ru/summary/1_4679/

http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-12-25/bykov-russia-olympics.html

VIDEO: http://english.ruvr.ru/rtvideo/2009/12/25/video_3267331.html

Figure skater Evgeny Pluschenko, who will be defending his Olympic title in Vancouver, has just broken his own points world record at the Russian Championships in Saint Petersburg.

And, of course, the Russian is among the main contenders for golds in Vancouver.

On the ladies' side, no one has so far matched Muscovite Sofia Biryukova at the Russian championships.

But even if she hangs onto her lead and captures the title, Sofia won't be able to compete internationally as she's only 13 years old.

Current world ice-dancing champions Oksana Domnina and Maksim Shabalin produced the best compulsory dance to take the lead in their category.

And Shabalin is confident they are in the right form to keep impressing in Vancouver.

“We have been preparing this program since July and I think we are in great shape at the moment. We performed exactly how we planned to, but I think we still have a lot in reserve,” Shabalin noted.

Watch the video: http://english.ruvr.ru/rtvideo/2009/12/2

Sochi preparations show upside of forward planning


Preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games are
well underway in Sochi. So far the work’s on schedule, but the pace will pick
up in 2010.

Just over fifteen-hundred days to go before the Winter
Olympic Games and Vladimir Putin went to check the pulse of construction works
in Sochi.

Large-scale infrastructure was represented by the
international airport. Modern design, but also the latest technology. Putin
made his way through the terminal as an arriving passenger. With testing
underway, the airport will start operation in March 2010. New runways will be
added by 2012 according to Transport Minister Igor Levitin.

“We've just
finished the first runway and plan to end the second one next year. We will
also start the construction of new taxiying strips and ramps next year to
provide parking space for planes according to IOC requirements. We planned to
finish on schedule by 2012 – but right now we are ahead of it.”

Forty-five key projects are under construction –
and they won praise from the visiting International Olympic Committee, which
was impressed by the rate of progress. As for next year, Putin called for close
attention to be paid to finances, to keep projects on track.

"Any delay in
construction may result in breaking the schedule – thus raising the
personal responsibility of all participants. Project planning should be kept to
a strict timetable. Any increase in the scale of construction should be fully
covered with credit and financial resources.”

24 hours a day, 7 days a week: That is the work
schedule on the ice arena – a key element in the Olympic park.
Construction is ahead of schedule, saving time for the main arena, designed to
fit into the natural harmony of the region with its ceilings repeating snowy
mountain tops.

During his visit to the Sochi Olympic site, the Prime
Minister was reassured. By building infrastructure first, like the train
tunnels that will connect the seaside with the mountain tops, other projects
will be completed more quickly next year.

Little diamonds of Russian figure skating

Three pre-teen figure skaters have triumphed in the girls’ competition at the latest stage of the Russian cup in Perm, once again hinting to become the main stars at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

Reigning Russian champion Adelina Sotnikova took a confident lead after the short program, and was equally as brilliant in her long performance.

A touching Eastern fairy tale on ice by the 13-year-old left no one in the house indifferent and proved enough to secure an undisputed title at the competition.

In chase was Elizaveta Tuktamysheva who, despite a few apparent faults, was keen to hold onto her second position.

In the girls' event all eyes were on Darya Medvedeva.

Her performance was supported in person by none other than Aleksey Mishin, who trained Evgeny Pluschenko to his 2006 Olympic gold and is preparing the star for the upcoming games in Vancouver.

The routine worked out perfectly, as the little Russian diamond left no doubts as to who was the best in the girls' singles event on the day, with her renowned trainer celebrating her success.

“I think I did pretty well today, though there were still a few little mistakes in my performance. Sometimes I do even better – so I wouldn't call my skating today the best I'm able to give,” Darya Medvedeva said.

Russia’s national team head coach Valery Artyukhov was also impressed with Medvedeva's performance, and pointed out that she's not alone in representing the best Russia can offer in the near future.

“Taking a look at the girls’ event podium, I'd say those three performed at a very high level of skating. First of all, the two girls from St. Petersburg – Darya Medvedeva and Valeriya Kachalina. Medvedeva even got some bonus points for two very complicated elements within the same program. Plus Cristina Zaseeva, who represents CSKA [Moscow], did very well here. I'm sure they will become our leaders in women's single skating in the near future. Though that's not all, as we have some more talents to grow,” Valery Artyukhov said.

 http://rt.com/Top_News/2009-10-15/little-diamonds-russian-figure.html

Maria Sharapova at Sochi 2014, Winter Olympic Games.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeiLdxaKJ

Russia will take every effort to hold high-class winter Olympic games in Sochi in 2014, President Dmitry Medvedev told the International Olympic Committee chief Jacques Rogge during a meeting in Switzerland on Tuesday. Rogge praised Russia for supporting sport and Olympic movement. “Russia is a country that can boast impressive achievements in sports: its athletes won more than 1000 Olympic medals. The country entered the top 3 list after the Beijing games”, said Rogge. The today’s meeting focused on Russia’s preparations for the games in Sochi. Medvedev described it as a ‘big and ambitious’ project. “Russia’s task is not only to build necessary infrastructure but also to make Sochi a high-class resort city, and this requires much more effort. But such an opportunity is granted only once in maybe 100 years, and it would be unwise not to use it, -the president said. We hope to cope with it, with active support of the IOC”, Mr. Medvedev said.

 http://english.ruvr.ru/2009/09/22/1802979.html

Medvedev&Putin in Sochi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9l0_eJoR6I

KOVALCHUK: BEST RUSSIAN SPORTSMAN-2009

A century of journalists voted the forward of Atlanta Thrashers Ilya Kovalchuk best sportsman in Russia this year.

He outscored Olga Zaytseva (biathlon), Alexandr Ovechkin, Evgeniy Malkin (both – ice hockey) and Dinara Safina (tennis) placed from 2 to 5 places respectively.

"For me it is a pleasant surprise to become sportsman of the year," commented on the title Kovalchuk. "In a team sport it is more difficult to win such a title."

"It would be better to call the Russian ice hockey national squad team of the year. For our victory at the World Cup was not the merit of one particular person but of the entire team."

"We keep on winning and the popularity of ice hockey increases. This is good. We are reviving past traditions, the Red Machine."

"I cannot say that I feel this popularity. When I am in Russia I try to avoid places where I can feel it. I spend most of the time with my family and friends. I have no other time for this."

"At the moment we are expecting our third baby. That is going to be a boy. I think two boys and a girl is the best combination. Whether they are to go in for sports will depend on the place where we will live. I mean at the moment when it is time to choose one."

"It can be ice hockey. Why not? I do not think this sport suits a girl… after all I am a Russian and stick to such stereotypes that ice hockey is not for girls. She swims, plays tennis a bit."

"Everybody has what he wants and needs. I have a family, and adore take my daughter to and from school. For example Ovechkin deserves his fame."

"He proves that he is a wonderful player every day on the ice. He is first of all an ice hockey player. And after all he is single and has full right to live as he lives. In a while he will build a family but now let him have fun."

"I have no problems in making people talk about me. I just never try to become the topic of talks on purpose. It is very easy to do just appearing in certain places. But I have a different lifestyle, other problems, concerns and interests."

"At the moment I live in Atlanta and I like it here. I do not think about moving somewhere and try not to make propositions. At the end of the season we will see the result."

"To my mind I should not have any problems signing new contract in my situation. If I play well all the season everything will work out."

"For me it does not matter how many Russian players there are in the team, more important is the level of their play. Though it is pleasant that Maxim and Antrop arrived to Atlanta, our journeys are merrier now. And laughter prolongs life."

"I am open to all offers. But it is too early to think about anything. I will make my decision taking into account what is best for my family. So not I alone will make this decision."

Isinbayeva with new world record - from Universal Sports

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwJsmDowiYU

Yelena Gadzhievna Isinbaeva (Russian: Елена Гаджиевна Исинбаева, ISO 9: Elena Gadžievna Isinbaeva) (born 3 June 1982) is a Russian pole vaulter. She is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2004 and 2008), was named Female Athlete of the Year by the IAAF in 2004, 2005 and 2008, and World Sportswoman of the Year by Laureus in 2007 and 2009. Prince of Asturias Award for Sports in 2009. As a result of her accomplishments, many consider her to be the greatest female pole-vaulter of all time.

Oksana DOMNINA / Maxim SHABALIN 2009 World FD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z01cavZA6Ok

Russian figure-skaters Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin are the two main candidates for the Vancouver-2010 gold in the ice dance. The current world champions, who have won the national championship, looked like serious Olympic medal contenders.       

Their original dance has proved original in all senses. Domnina and Shabalin have presented a spectacular dance of the Australian Aborigenes. The Russian figure skaters surprised everybody not only with the original elements they performed on the skating-rink but also with their colourful costumes and make-up. The two dark-skinned natives resembled in no way the beautiful blonde Oksana and always strict and reserved Maxim.    

Oksana and Maxim assessed their performance at the Russian Figure-Skating Championship, where they were unparalleled, as a 60 to 70 per cent performance. Their coaches were also critical about it. "We'll continue working on it but it would be good here to praise their courage and mastership," Natalya Linichuk said:

"Ahead of the Olympic performances, I would give the two of them orders for heroism, courage, self-control, and willingness to overcome all difficulties".

Unfortunately, they did not take part in the European Figure-Skating Championship because one of them was injured. But in March this year they won the champion of the world title in Los Angeles.

After the Russian championship Domnina and Shabalin  returned to America, where they continue their preparations for the European championship  and for the Olympic Games, due to take place in January next year.