| 2008-12-24 |
Published: RusEnergy - News of Fuel and Energy Complex |
How to prepare adequately for the London Olympic Games and to return the former fame to domestic cycling and make it attractive for broad masses was the subject matter of the Board of Guardians of the Cycling Federation of Russia (CFR). It was chaired by Sergey Chemezov, Head of the CFR, on December 23, in the head offices of ITERA International Group of companies, a long-term CFR general sponsor, in Moscow.
Having reviewed a report on the Federation's activities in 2008 and having recognized its operation satisfactory, the participants in the meeting concentrated most attention on concrete measures intended to ensure high quality preparation for the Olympic Games-2012, to the World championships and other prestigious international competitions.
Oleg Sienko, the CFR President, noted to that matter it was necessity to strengthen the physical infrastructure of cycling, the usage of a broad experience of eminent coaches, and the latest achievements of the world science and practice. He described in detail the long-term draft plan for development of cycling in Russia until 2020. The head of CFR stated that "it would be very difficult to improve the cycling sport without support on the part of the state".
The participants in the meeting approved of the presented document. Sergey Chemezov, Chairman of the Board of Guardians, General Director of the Russian Technologies, a state corporation, in the process of approving the CFR budget for 2009, stressed that under the financial crisis conditions it was extremely important to rely on both the support from the state, and on sponsor's investments to be raised for the benefit of cycling. "Sufficient financing, - he noted, - would open prospects for reaching high results, for select teams of the country, and for Katyusha, the first Russian professional team". They "would allow the entire national cycling make qualitatively new steps in its development".
Igor Makarov, Vice President of the CFR Board of Guardians, head of the Board of Directors of ITERA International Group of companies expressed hope, that "business would make a powerful contribution into revival of cycling, and that the Russian racers and Katyusha would return the country a position of the world cycling leader".
The Board of Guardians recommended Peter Chevardov, Executive Director of the Cycling Sport Development and Support Foundation, that the Foundation should continue active efforts to engage new sponsors.
Andrey Chmil, Director of Katyusha, the professional team, spoke on the prospects of developing professional cycling in the Russian Federation. He stressed that "beginning in 2009 Russia would get a new image in the world cycling. This is going to be the image of Katyusha, the professional team sponsored by Gazprom, Rostechnologii and ITERA.
The Board of Guardians recommended that leaders of Katysha should invite more persistently young and promising Russian racers to join the team. It is necessary for them to try themselves together with stars of the world sports to be able to defend successfully the colors of their country in the Olympic Games and the world championships.
The same day a solemn evening devoted to the 125 anniversary of the cycling sports in Russia took place in ITERA. Champions and prize-winners in the Olympic Games and the world championship, the glorified cycle veteran racers and the well-known coaches took part in it. Heads of the Board of Guardians and the FCR congratulated them with the anniversary and expressed sincere gratitude for the glorious victories that had been entered in the annals of the national and the world cycling.
A colorful presentation of Katyusha, the first Russian professional cycling team, was held within the framework of the celebration. Debutants of the Major League have a task of entering the world cycling elite and performing successfully in all grand tours in the forthcoming season, - ITERA press-release stated.
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