Translated material
The real price of the Sochi victory
The New Times found out how and for what money they managed to get the missing votes
One of the most important events of the year for our country was undoubtedly the election of Sochi as the capital of the 2014 Olympics. Few in Russia actually believed that this could happen. The New Times found out how and for what money they managed to get the missing votes
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“The roles were distributed like this: the president makes a general introduction, and each next one already presents something in detail,” one member of the Russian delegation, who wished to remain anonymous, told The New Times, solely because the victory of Sochi did not seem real to him. (“The second place was the ultimate dream, but now, in the wake of this euphoria, it’s somehow even inconvenient to talk about it in one’s own name.”)
Written by Jonathan Tibbs
Did this script have any personal author?
Yes. His name is Jonathan Tibbs, an Englishman who advised Paris' summer bid two years ago. True, London won the final then, but we didn’t really hope to advance further than the final ... He locked everyone who was to speak - except for Putin, of course - in some Guatemalan monastery, and there they crammed their texts. I was most of all amazed by the progress of the Paralympic athlete Terentyev, who until quite recently could only say his name and say hello in English correctly. And after the monastery he made a whole speech!
Well, in a week it is still hardly possible to learn this ...
And a year ago they were sent to England for something like an internship: the guys lived for several weeks in natural villages, in families, and communicated exclusively with native speakers. So the base was laid.
And Tyagachev was not specifically given any text to voice?
Leonid Vasilich is our improviser. He can write anything on a piece of paper, but he will blurt out something of his own, but in Russian! I remember how, at the opening of the skating rink in Chelyabinsk, I closed up: he says, Fetisov and I are such friends, well, just like two d'Artagnans! Therefore, in Guatemala, he was assigned the role of a silent man with a friendly, intelligent face.
Is it true that Tony Blair's speechwriter edited the lyrics for the speakers?
No, he himself was just offended when he was called that. I, I said, constantly work with the leader of the conservatives. Martin Newworth is his name. Not a leader, in the sense, but our English guy.
We hit on feelings
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Sochi 2014 Chairman of the Board Svetlana Anikina even tried to explain to the IOC members what it is - the Russian soul, but they hardly fully understood. And this soul was torn into memories from combed English texts. Deputy Prime Minister Zhukov told how he volunteered to mix the mortar with a shovel, which later became concrete and formed the basis of Luzhniki, the main arena of the 1980 Olympics. Mrs. Anikina recalled how she worked at the same Olympics as a young translator (it turns out that there are professional Olympians in Russian villages!). The great swimmer Alexander Popov touched upon the subject of the Olympic heritage - and the children on the big screen behind him ran along the sea along the Sochi pebbles ... It got me through!
Snow-covered Salzburg, which was presented next, looked somehow officially boring against the background of our wide openness: all of you, I suppose, skied, skated, sledged with us or watched how others do it. We have everything, fly from anywhere in Europe in less than two hours - Salzburg is at your service even now. And it was especially noted that Austria is perhaps the safest country in the world. The meticulous prince asked about the snow and the number of places in hotels. It was said that not one of the countless stages of the World Cups in all conceivable sports had ever failed because of the lack of snow, and the Austrians were even offended about the hotels: when did we have problems with accommodation? ..
South Koreans came last. What can you say - in terms of technology, they seem to have the next century, and by 2014 the XXIII is promised. But they let a tear closer to the end, as it turned out, an extra one.
“Guys screwed up. They began to tell from the screen how some granny saw her son for the last time almost half a hundred years ago: since then he has been in North Korea, she has been in South Korea, and if they are given the Olympics, the borders will be slightly opened for her time, and they there will be a chance to meet again. But the IOC has long been striving to distance itself from politics in every possible way, and this story has only played a disadvantage for the South Koreans. And their Tyagachev climbed onto the podium, and he, by the way, is the president of Samsung. No, the IOC is always glad to sponsors, but in this case it would be better for him, like our Lena, to sit quietly somewhere in the back row.
Then came the first round. And immediately fell off Salzburg! The results became known later: 36 votes - Pyonchang, 34 - Sochi and 25 - Salzburg. And then the second round began, which was almost torn off by the delegate from Italy, who broke his calculating machine. Replaced, voted, counted. President Jacques Rogge has the envelope, and he already knows the cherished word. The rest of the world will know it in an hour and a half.
Who and how
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“We were stunned with happiness, having achieved the main goal so easily. But we quickly withdrew, began to figure out how many votes from Salzburg would go to us. And suddenly they realized: there is a chance!
What did they come from?
At first, the sureties were counted: Koloskov promised that out of seven delegates related to football, six would be ours. Only he failed to negotiate with the Japanese, understandably, right? Plus, two votes from Ukraine and one Polish - in vain, perhaps, the Doctor (Koloskov's old nickname. - S.M.) recently voted to give them the European Football Championship?
Were the "tractor's" votes taken into account? Ours seems to have supported Vancouver in the last elections, and now the North Americans, like the Ukrainians and the Poles, should, in theory, pay off their debts?
I will clarify: only Canadians really should have. They gave it away. But the Americans could be won over to their side only if Pyonchang suddenly fell off and the choice would be between us and Salzburg. Then they could be considered debtors. But, as practical people, they preferred Korea in the end, deciding that they would be more comfortable there. Tyagachev, on the other hand, had three "postponed" votes: an Austrian and two Germans, like them - Leo, Thomas and Walter. The Austrians are laying the track for us in Sochi - they were attracted very correctly. Well, the Germans went with them for the company - in case Salzburg comes down and they can vote, because there is no bobsleigh track in Austria and the starts on German territory would have taken place.
Jacques Rogge, who did he like more?
And who made him his successor? Samaranch right? And who did Samaranch start his career with? Ambassador of Spain to the Union, right? And he himself was elected president of the IOC at the Moscow session. We put a lot on the "grandfather" of this. And they were not mistaken - a person is still in great authority.
Although he is old..
Havelange is generally over 90, and what questions does he solve! By the way, he was also with us thanks to Koloskov. And with Putin, by the way, I personally met - on the sixth floor of the Intercontinental. They arranged a "day of receptions" with Potanin. By the way, it was convincing: here is an imperious guarantor, a lover of mountain slopes, and here is a monetary one. He also rides in his spare time. A common hobby - such people will not fail the project.
Were many people accepted?
We started with Rogge, and then had dinner with the most influential Mokovites - and this, by the way, was at night, right after arriving from the States! No, Putin, of course, did a gigantic job: the fact that we eventually converted these “minus five or six” into “plus four” is primarily his personal merit.
And what was the previous work of the team, without the “captain”, what was it worth?
At least not in the measly $30 million that was officially announced. And the amount itself is underestimated, and made public too early. For example, a huge skating rink suddenly appeared in Guatemala near the Russian House - did it fall from the sky? And to drag such a colossus to distant lands is worth such a dough ... And this is only one position.
So if not "thirty", then how much?
Before us, London was the record holder - they voiced 48 million dollars. We double-checked this figure with our British - almost a cent to a cent agreed. Only there they are all honestly open. So, according to my approximate calculations, we almost came close to them. This is up to Guatemala, that is, without a skating rink and other things. But, as we say in sports, winners are not judged. Now, if you lost, then yes, it would be possible to raise this unfortunate howl because of thirty. And how did they win - what difference does it make who and with what folded to win this victory ?! At the same time, I repeat, well, let those thirty remain - it was the paid price of the second, at best, place. And it took, and the first one came out ...
But if they didn’t go for the first, then why was there confidence that there would be no third?
But just because of the PR. Do you know what was the first shortcoming that Salzburg was noted in the report of that IOC commission? Insufficient self-promotion. This is where we shouldn't lose...
Although the Korean - official - numbers can't be called minuscule either, can they?
21 million? Only if compared with 12 Austrian. And in Guatemala, they all behaved somehow without scope. Some are like favorites, others are like outsiders. We, they say, did everything we could, and it's up to you to decide. Why, for example, did the Korean president come if, according to my information, he did not really meet with anyone, except for his Asian neighbors. And there they already had everything covered in chocolate: 14 by 3.
And how did Europe win?
In one gate - 35:6. Moreover, these six - we will find out slowly who they are - are simply some kind of personal enemies of Russia. The Olympics are not demonstration performances: if at first you wanted to go to Salzburg, then to Korea, you don’t care what the hell?! With such a time difference? All these acclimatizations to pass ...
Well, maybe these were some left-wing participating countries?
In any case, it is necessary, when we finish celebrating the victory, to find out everything for the future. After all, we, too, now owe a lot to many, but in such cases it is not recommended to make mistakes.