Olympic grapes are green

Russia will not claim to hold the Summer Olympic Games 2024

Russia will not claim to hold the Summer Olympic Games in 2024. This, according to the Agency "R-Sport" , said the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko.

Literally, the minister said the following: "So far, Russia does not have plans to participate in an application campaign for the Summer Olympic Games." But, I think, the meaningful "so far" is only a figure of speech, no more.

In his statement, Vitaly Mutko listed the reasons that force the authorities (not only sports) of Russia to abandon too far -reaching plans. This, according to the Minister, the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 Universiade in Krasnoyarsk and the 2020 European Championship matches in St. Petersburg. In addition, Mutko announced his intentions to accept the European Basketball Championship in 2023. And no major sporting events in Russia are no longer planned, although it was previously assumed that not only St. Petersburg, but also Kazan will be able to claim the right to hold games-2024.

In general, the situation is clear. The country's finances are in critical condition . The Olympiad in Sochi, despite the vigorous statements of both its organizers and the International Olympic Committee, brought Russia to Russia . And the “epic” with the Crimea and the “hybrid war” in Ukraine not only destroyed all the country's image achievements from Sochi-2014 in Ukraine, but also involved Russia in the regime of international sanctions. Which, of course, did not contribute to the financial health of the country.

Ahead of Russia awaits serious trials - both financial, social, and political. There are no less advanced forecasts, and there are less and less optimistic every day ... And although on the "sports field" in the country, according to official sources, everything is in order, in fact, it is clear that there is no more possibilities left to spend crazy money multiplied by no less crazy Russian corruption. The construction of stadiums for the 2018 World Cup is in full swing in Russia, and in terms of costs this tournament will probably break through another large gap in the already exhausted Russian economy. Significantly and political resistance at the international level to large sports actions. In any case, many politicians in the world openly call for the boycott of the 2018 World Cup and transfer it from Russia to another country. And then ...

That is why Vitaly Mutko’s statement is understandable, by the way, the first official recognition of the fact that sports Russia, firstly, does not have enough strength for large sports events, and secondly, that image achievements for the country are meaningful in conditions when its foreign policy contradicts the declared spirit of good-style and peaceful cooperation.

It makes no sense to spend money on these purposes, as if the Minister of Sports recognizes. Talking in such a situation about large tournaments is simply pointless. In fact: the Universiade, the Eurobasket, the 2016 hockey championship and even the 2020 European football championship (from which from 4 to 6 matches will be held in Russia) - the events are not very costly. And if Russia suddenly (in the event of, say, escalation of events in Ukraine ) will receive a significant strengthening of international sanctions, it will become almost impossible to talk about international tournaments.

Isn't it better to abandon them in advance, saying something like "green grapes"? ..

It is significant that this statement was not made by Alexander Zhukov, the head of the Olympic Committee of Russia, formally public organization. No, the above words were uttered by a state official, Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation ...

It remains to recall that the election of the venue of the Olympics 2024 will be held in the summer of 2017. So far, only Rome, Hamburg and Boston formed their applications for this Olympics. The next summer games will be held in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, in 2020-in Tokyo.