Translated material
Plushenko will miss the Grand Prix stages
There are more than enough reasons for such a risky decision. Last year, the skater and his coach Alexei Mishin complained that it was in vain that they did not take a time out earlier so that Plushenko had the opportunity to heal old injuries.
In April, in Germany, the skater underwent two operations, an inguinal hernia was removed, and only in May he began training. So far, neither Mishin nor Plushenko have commented on the plans. But even without this, it is clear that the athlete intends to prepare for the Olympics in Turin without unnecessary fuss. In addition, personal circumstances also played a significant role. This weekend Plushenko will marry his St. Petersburg friend Masha. It is possible that this will add motivation to the athlete at the 2006 Winter Games. Olga ERMOLINA
Makarov topped the IAAF rankings in javelin throw
Russian Sergei Makarov topped the IAAF rankings in men's javelin throw. The current world champion rose from third place to first after winning the tournament in Ostrava. Makarov came to the competition in the Czech city at the personal invitation of world record holder Jan Zhelezny, who did not take part in the tournament. In the absence of the famous Czech, the Russian had to compete with two Finnish javelin throwers - Tero Pitkämäki and Esko Mikkola. Makarov finished his performances with the best result of the season in the world - 88.84 m, equal to 1345 points in the IAAF world ranking. At the moment, according to the overall IAAF ranking for all types of athletics, Sergei Makarov ranks 114th. Olesya KOMAROVA
Gretzky returns to Team Canada
The famous Canadian hockey player Wayne Gretzky has officially agreed to lead the Canadian Olympic hockey team. As before, he will continue to work with the team as general manager. At the press conference, Gretzky also announced the names of his assistants: Kevin Lowe, general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, and Steve Tambellini, assistant general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. Gretzky expressed hope for a repeat of the success of three years ago, when the Canadians won Olympic gold in Salt Lake City. He also confirmed that he intends to work with the national team, regardless of how events unfold in connection with the crisis in the National Hockey League. Olesya KOMAROVA
Yanukovych resigned as head of the NOC of Ukraine
The Executive Committee of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine accepted the resignation of its former head Viktor Yanukovych. The new head of the committee will be elected on June 23 at the NOC general assembly. According to the Ukrainian Minister for Youth, Sports and Family Yuriy Pavlenko, the Olympic Committee should be headed by a “person from sports.” Among the likely candidates are the names of Sergei Bubka, Valery Borzov and the first vice-president of the NOC Ivan Fedorenko. Olesya KOMAROVA
Russian swimmers were the first to arrive in Monaco
At the commercial swimming tournament of the Mare Nostrum series that ended in Monaco, the Russians were again in the lead. Dmitry Komornikov finished first in the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke. Arkady Vyatchanin won the 100m backstroke. Nikolai Skvortsov had no equal in the 200m butterfly. And Andrey Kapralov won the 100 and 200 meters freestyle. After four stages of the series, the leaders in the number of victories among Russians are Dmitry Komornikov and Arkady Vyatchanin - five first places each, Kapralov and Skvortsov have four each, the silver medalist of the Athens Games Stanislava Komarova has three, Grigory Falko has one . Olga ERMOLINA
Patarkatsishvili promises Olympics to Georgia
Georgia intends to bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. This was stated on Thursday in an interview with the Tbilisi newspaper “Sporti” by the president of the NOC, famous businessman and philanthropist Badri Patarkatsishvili. He said that he had already discussed this idea with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. “The head of state welcomed this idea and promised to provide support,” said Badri Patarkatsishvili. - We must motivate the entire society to host such a large-scale sports forum. This idea has not only sporting, but also political and social implications.” The idea of holding the Winter Games in Georgia was considered back in the 80s, but its implementation was prevented by the collapse of the USSR.
According to Badri Patarkatsishvili, a tandem of cities - Tbilisi and the high-mountain resort of Borjomi or Bakuriani - will probably be nominated to host the Olympics. In Soviet times, the latter repeatedly hosted prestigious all-Union winter sports tournaments. Badri Patarkatsishvili said that an application for applicant status must be sent to the IOC by July 26, and a package of relevant documents must be submitted by June 2006. The IOC session in the summer of 2007 in Guatemala will determine who will be granted the right to host the 2014 White Games. “We are already negotiating with the American company Octagon and the English company AT Kearney, who have significant experience in preparing and holding large-scale sports entertainment events,” he said. If the IOC refuses, Georgia will qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Badri Patarkatsishvili, who heads the Federation of Georgian Businessmen, said that the country's leading business people also support the idea of hosting the Games. Let us remind you that Russia still wants the extradition of Patarkatsishvili, who is accused of major thefts, but according to Georgian laws, the extradition of Georgian citizens is unacceptable. Mikhail VIGNANSKY, Tbilisi