On the Scene - Vitaly Mutko Deems Universiade a Success; Water Polo Rivalry

Russian Sport Minster Deems Kazan Summer Universiade a Success; Looks Forward to Sochi Games

Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko tells Around the Rings that the 2013 Summer Universiade was a great success, and he is sorry to see the Games in Kazan come to a close.

Mutko and other Russian dignitaries, officials from the International University Sports Federation (FISU), approximately 10,000 athletes representing 162 countries and an estimated 45,000 spectators will attend the closing ceremony on Wednesday evening at the "Kazan Arena" Stadium. At the ceremony, the FISU flag will be passed to the 2015 Summer Universiade host city of Gwangju, South Korea.

"It will be really sad that it is over, but I will go home with a lot of positive emotions," Mutko told ATR during an interview at the Main Media Center in Kazan on Tuesday. "I have a lot of pride for my country, for our athletes and for young people. We can have a lot of discussions about what kind of youth we have here. Will they meet our expectations and develop our countries?"

With the 12 days of the World University Games coming to a close and the 2014 Sochi Olympics now less than seven months away, Mutko discussed what Russian organizers can learn from Kazan and use to benefit final preparations for Sochi.

"I think we can apply the functions that we developed and tested here at Universiade such as food and beverage, management, logistics, security measures, and Visa questions," Mutko said. "Of course, summer and winter games are different but the one thing we can apply to Sochi is the heart and hospitality of Kazaners."

Mutko spoke about the role of the Russian government in assuring that the Sochi Olympics are a success.

"The state is doing everything possible that Sochi will be hosted on the highest level," he said. "Everything goes on the shoulders of the people working at the head of the state and everything possible is being done. We control and manage everything including President Putin himself."

"We will look over all the questions about the hosting of the Games so that we see it and know it like the back of our hands," said the Russian Minister of Sports. "We are warming up and we will now work more and more towards Sochi."

In February 2014, there will be lofty expectations placed on Russian athletes to contribute to the nation’s medal count, especially for the superstars of the country’s ice hockey team.

THe last time a Russian hockey team won an Olympic gold medal was in Albertville 1992, when they were referred to as the Unified Team shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union.

At the recent IIHF World Championship in Helsinki, Russia was eliminated by the United States in the quarterfinals.

"I am really worried about it," Mutko admitted, referring to the country’s hopes to achieve hockey gold at the Bolshoi Ice Dome in Sochi. "At the world championships there were a lot of champions from the last team, but now our success is not guaranteed like before. But with Malkin, Ovechkin and Kovalchuk playing together [in Sochi] it will be a different team."

Finally, Mutko discussed Russia’s potential for overall medal success at the home Olympics.

"There will be 98 medals in 14 sports, but in winter sports we are not as strong as in summer sports," he said."Our traditional sports are cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating, biathlon and ice hockey.

"In Vancouver, we were eleventh in the medal count and we had only three gold medals," Mutko said.

"We’ve worked very hard for the past three years and during this winter season of 2012-2013, we had a total of seven medals during world championships. We moved one step ahead, but we need to develop and keep this level to repeat these results at the Olympics Games."

Water Polo Rivalry

One of the more intriguing team finals in Kazan is the water polo gold medal contest between Hungary and Russia scheduled for tomorrow at 1 PM local time.

The two powerhouses of the sport have tangled many times over the years, but for Hungary, none as significant as during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. With tensions flaring, the two nations met in the pool against the backdrop of the Hungarian Revolution.

Just over a month prior to the opening of the Games, Soviet troops had entered the Eastern European nation to quell an uprising started by Hungarian students. Although the uprising had been suppressed by the opening of the Games, Hungary’s water polo team viewed the Olympics as a way to salvage pride for the nation.

In what is referred to as the "Blood in the Water" match, Hungary defeated the U.S.S.R. 4-0 in a powerful moral victory for country. Hungary went on to win a gold medal, beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in the final.

"Our countries have a lot of history from 60 years ago when the Soviet Union was in Hungary, but everyone has forgotten the past and we just want to win," said Hungarian player Zsolt Juhasz about Wednesday night’s gold medal game.

Three-time Olympian and Hungarian head coach Dr. Balazs Vincze reflected upon the history between the two teams.

"Hungary won just a few weeks after the revolution, but that was over 55 years ago now," said Vincze. "These kids know the history, but it is not as relevant as it was before."

"Russia and Hungary have had a good rivalry at the top of water polo for a long time and I don’t know of any other sport in our country that there is a relationship like this with another country," Vincze said.

Juhasz, who scored three goals in a semifinal win over Italy, spoke about the importance of the final against Russia.

"This is our Olympics in Kazan 2013," Juhasz said. "In our hearts, we want to win for our heroes of 60 years ago."

Wonderful Experience

Valeriya Detkina, 19, is one of approximately 250 attaches working for FISU at the 2013 Summer Universiade.

The young Russian student, who is studying political science at Kazan’s Federal University, spoke about her warm experiences during the Games.

"I can’t believe this wonderful event happened in our city," Detkina said. "I’ve had the chance to meet and learn about people from all over the world. I’ve seen live sporting events for the first time and it has also been very good English practice for me, especially working as an attaché."

Detkina was most amazed while visiting the Athletes Village, where more than 10,000 student athletes resided during the 12 days of Summer Universiade.

"It is really wonderful to see sportsmen from so many different countries living as one family without borders in a very friendly and peaceful atmosphere.

"It has been a wonderful experience for me and now I hope I will go to the seaside."

Reported in Kazan by Brian Pinelli.

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