Deputies’ workshop

Фото: Vasilii Shestakov (Andrey Golovanov, Sergey Kivrin)

Our parliament probably has more deputies with Olympic titles than any other. Sports battles are over and the glorious athletes are applying their fighting qualities in their new career. They can much warmth and informal attitude to the work of the State Duma. Running workshops in different sports disciplines within framework of international exchange between parliaments can be considered the latest know-how of the Russian Olympians. The first such workshop was organized in Tokyo. The editor-in-chief of Moscow Sports, Yekaterina Kolodnaya, interviewed the head of the Russian parliamentary mission, the distinguished trainer of the Russian Federation in judo, Vasilii Shestakov.

How did the idea of running workshops abroad come about? Who came up with it? Why was Japan chosen for the first such trip?

Let me start by saying that there is constant exchange between parliaments. We regularly meet for negotiations and discussions of challenges in lawmaking. We also strengthen our cultural and sports ties. The idea was to come up with something new, to add a new thrill to such contacts that otherwise are limited to discussions. There are so many athletes among our deputies and some glorious names: Svetlana Khorkina, Alexander Karelin, Anton Sikharulidze, Svetlana Ishmuratova, Alina Kabaeva, Arsen Fadzaev and many others. Besides, all of them are in great shape. It occurred to me that we should explore this potential. This is how the idea was born to diversify the parliamentary exchange with practical demonstrations. I shared my ideas about using the potential of our Olympians with Boris Gryzlov who eagerly supported my initiative. The fact that we started with Japan has a simple explanation. I am a member of the commission for inter-parliamentary relations with Japan and we have well-established contacts with our Japanese colleagues. I met with ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan, Mr. Yasuo Saitou, as well as his assistants and deputies, we discussed various options, evaluated our possibilities and found out that we were holding the same views on the subject. The foreign ministry of Japan sent us an official invitation and even took upon itself financing the trip.

How did it go?

It was wonderful. The Japanese side organized a series of very interesting and useful meetings, our visit had a varied program. What’s most important is that the master-classes were a huge success. Take the performance of Alexander Karelin, for example. There were about ten cameras following his every movement. He is tremendously popular in Japan. It wasn't easy for him to walk down the street after the workshop was shown on TV. We visited a fish market with him. It is a wonderful place in itself, which deserves a separate story. I’ve never seen such a variety of fresh see products in my life. Well, at that market Alexander was recognized almost by everyone. Not only the Japanese people knew him but foreign visitors too were quick to recognize him. Our hero athlete is truly a global celebrity.

Did the Japanese side have a say with regard to the choice of athletes? Who was included in the delegation besides Karelin?

The Japanese colleagues left it for us to decide. Not everyone had the time to travel. The invitation was extended to Alina Kabaeva, Vladislav Tretiak and Arsen Fadziev, however this event coincided with a session of PACE they which they had to attend. In the end the delegation included: Anton Sikharulidze (chairman of Duma Committee for physical culture and sports), Svetlana Khorkina (deputy chairman of Duma Committee for youth) and, of course, Alexander Karelin (member of Duma Committee for foreign affairs). All off them have conducted workshops in Tokyo in their respective sports: figure skating, Olympic gymnastics and Greco-Roman wrestling.

When and where did this take place?

They have this remarkable national sports center, Japan Institute of sports sciences (JISS). This is where the workshops of Svetlana Khorkina and Alexander Karelin took place. Our Olympic champion in figure skating Anton Sikharulidze conducted his workshop in the park of Meiji Jingu temple. In fact these were exhibition performances. Our masters demonstrated their trademark tricks and technical elements. Many young athletes had the chance to try and repeat them. In fact, this was all very interesting.

Did I get it right that there were many spectators and participants at the workshop? Did Japanese Olympians take part in these workshops?

Only a limited number of spectators were allowed because of lack of space. There were many athletes and journalists. Japanese journalist stressed the importance of following the example of the Russian athletes. They noted the fact that after becoming parliamentarians they do not forget about their vocation in sports. The journalist urged the Japanese athletes to follow suit and organize their own workshops, which would surely attract children and youth. On the whole we were very happy with Japanese media response. I think that our visit was a great success.

In the course of the visit the delegation also had meetings with deputies of Japanese parliament, members of the government and Tokyo governor. You were also shown some sports facilities under construction. Was there something memorable? Is there something we can adopt?

Tokyo plans to bid for hosting the 2016 Olympics. We were taken to sports facilities under construction where the future Olympic competitions might take place. However, what really impressed us was the national sports center where our workshops partly took place. It is strikingly functional, well-thought-out and comfortably organized. It literally has everything: sports hall that can simultaneously accommodate athletes in different kinds of sports, training equipment, a rehabilitation center, a hotel for 250 people and a canteen – it’s all in one place. No architectural extravagance, no pompousness – functionality is what really matters. However, in our country quite often we see that sports centers are built as palaces in orer to impress someone. What's even more important – I also observed it China during the Olympic Games – they have a barriersfree environment. Everything is organized in such manner as to allow the Para-Olympians or simple people with physical disabilities to feel themselves at ease and be equal citizens like all others.

Did you have an opportunity to acquaint yourself with Japanese explorations in the field of sports medicine? I suppose Japan is very strong at that…

This is true. Their medicine is actually very advanced, you can tell that by the number of doctor in sports medicine that they have. However, as I understand, the results of their studies are secret. They showed us their sports halls but they did not take us to the laboratories where their records are forged, so to say.

As for our parliamentary activity… Our regulatory framework with regard to sports is relatively young, there are certain lacunae and there is a lot to do. Were you able to learn something from your conversations with Japanese colleagues?

We had many interesting meetings and not only with parliamentarians. For example, we’ve met with deputy director of Europe’s Department, Mr. Fukusima and Mrs. Hasimoto, Japan’s vice-minister of Foreign Affairs. By the way, she is an athlete and took part in seven Olympics. We had a very useful exchange of opinions. Anton Sikharulidze asked many questions about the way sports issues are treated by Japanese laws. The answers were very interesting and to the point. We told them about the situation with our own laws regarding physical culture and sports. I hope that the resulting exchange will be of use to our deputies in their everyday work. As for the problems… All the encounters I’ve had with representatives of other countries on sports issues have convinced me that the system of support for athletes that we had in Soviet Union is still unmatched in principle. I would, perhaps, say that only China has a consistent system for state-sponsored athlete’s training and support. This is why I would say that what is being done in Japan today certainly has interesting things just like in any other system. However, they are only starting to realize the importance of giving state support to athletes with high achievements and high class. Thus, I would say that we have to use our own experience as basis for future models.

What problems do we have to tackle first with regard to successful development of sports in our country?

It is desirable to put more effort into development of sports of higher achievements, removing certain technical shortcomings and try to regain that which we have lost as soon as possible. For example, our laws omitted such concept as complex school of higher sports achievements. Social standards must also be reviewed. I will never tire to repeat that sports should be accessible to everyone and in addition to that it should be free for children. We know that president Dmitrii Medvedev proposed to establish a program for sports development with a time span extending to 2020. We need to generate some new social standards for that. Let’s say that for every 100,000 people there should be a certain number of swimming pools, sports halls, football fields etc. These standards have not yet been updated in our country. This is one of the many things we should do.