"There will be no compromises!"

The Russian team continues to ignore the General Sponsor in two days in the Italian city of Antholz-Anterselva, four races of the Biathlon Championship were held. The Russian team surpassed expectations, designing the “silver” in the persecution race (Maxim Chudov) and “Bronze” in Sprint (Natalya Guseva). Victory - twice - the Norwegian was celebrated by Ole Ainar Bjorndalen and German Magdalena Neuner. But our team, unfortunately, attracts universal attention not by results, but on an ongoing conflict with the Union of Biathlonists of Russia (SBR).

“Here is a free place, here, here,” Maxim Chudov leads a finger throughout the overalls. “There are also free places on the rifle, on the hat.” The youngest Russian biathlete is regret to say that his team is experiencing a critical situation with sponsors throughout the season. On the old overalls, Maxim from under the patch shines through the VIESSMANN logo. With this company, the leadership of the SBR represented by his President Alexander Tikhonov signed a sponsorship agreement. However, both athletes and team coaches believe that this agreement infringes their rights. Negotiations, to which experienced lawyers have been connected, have been underway since the end of last year, but so far they have not brought any result. In protest, the guys were forced to launch adhesive tape. “Oh, how tired of all this - to tear and put on the tape every time after washing,” Miracles complains.

On Friday, a letter from the SBR was transferred to the national team with a warning that in the case of lining the name of the official sponsor, sanctions will be applied to the team members. “At the coaching council, I was offered not to show this letter to the guys, but I was against it. Before that, we kept them in the know of all affairs, and I do not think that the next news would lead them out of balance. Rather, it will give up ” - the head coach of the national team Vladimir Alikin starts when the conversation comes on a sore subject. According to him, “clean” costumes were made specially for the World Cup, without mentioning the General Sponsor. And the decision to start in them was not even in doubt. The appearance of Natalia Guseva and Maxim Gudov in the lenses of television cameras in this form is a serious blow to the image of Viessmann. But all the stickers of personal sponsors were on public review. True, the VIESSMANN logo is glued on the bed of a rifle - but at this place the company is presented as an official sponsor of the International Biathlon Union (IBU).

“We understand that the result of our struggle with the SBR will be unpredictable, but do not intend to compromise,” Alikin's position is voiced.

According to the rules of IBU for advertising purposes, you can use the clothes and equipment of athletes and coaches. The Russian team is almost the only one who stands out with a minimum of advertising. The Chudov was lucky, he found a personal sponsor - the company "Russian Railways". "Russian Railways for three years has constantly gives me an increase in salary. And how else to live four thousand rubles?!"

According to international standards, this trial is a purely internal affair and the intervention of the third party is illegal. Nevertheless, they talk about the Russian team in Antholce. "Tell me, why will Mr. Tikhonov not come to Antholz?" -In response to this question, one of the foreign journalists Andreas Bessesberg, IBU President, viciously glanced and read out the text of the press release: “IBU Vice President Tikhonov cannot come, as it is obliged to take part in important meetings in Russia.” “I won’t comment on anything else,” Besserberg added and waryly looked around the hall. However, the fact that the president of the SBR is under the subscription about the loss of the criminal case of the attempt on the Governor of the Kemerovo region Aman Tuleyev is not a secret. Journalists, better than others, have information, so write that Tikhonov is our friend, and we are always ready to take into account his opinion on fax or by phone. ”

But back to purely sports matters. Miracles in his 24 years are one of the most promising young biathletes in the world. Having achieved the second place in the persecution race, he joked at a press conference: “Bjorndalen is a great athlete, but he can also be defeated. To do this, I need to grow up a bit ”(Read a full interview with Miracle in tomorrow). After these words, the Norwegian laughed and only patted the impudent on the shoulder of the impudent.

Chudov is charming and directly. In order to become a star, he needs to win. Vladimir Alikin believes that this championship is Chudova. Although he is the debutant of the World Cup, he already has enough experience. “He could enter the prize three already in the sprint if he hadn’t bagged with the second shooting!”

Magdalena Neiner is five years younger than Chudov. In Antholz, a 19-year-old German has already won two gold medals. Half an hour after another victory, she went to the people to give out autographs. "Lena, Lena!" - the fans grabbed her by the clothes. “Of course, it would be worth reducing her communication with the fans, but this is impossible,” Uve Mussigang, a coach of the German national team, explained to the newspaper. - As her manager Stefan Peplis told me, "I have been observing such popularity for the first time in my whole life. Now Neiner has a sea of offers from advertisers. Even Katya Wilhelm does not have so much! If she further acts like that, then she will be a real star."

02.02.2007 / Tatyana Milevskaya / Antholts-Anterselva, the material was published in the newspaper No. 20 dated 05.02.2007.