YTFiles is back
Hi guys.
I have been away at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, working for NBC. I will be back to blogging now, so please check back to YTFiles.com for new and exciting stuff, as well as some Olympic recaps.
Yuliya
Russian Radio In Olympic Vancouver: Do Not Be Surprised To Hear Russian Language on Vancouver’s AM 650
Autoradio in Vancouver
That is right. Russian radio is coming down to Vancouver to air Russian music and commentary during the 2010 Games. Russia's top morning radio station Autoradio will broadcast from the Russia House 8 PM to 5 AM PST every day February 12-28. Autoradio will broadcast from Vancouver to all of Russia, so that their listeners half a world away can get their morning fix of news and music from within the Olympic capital where it all happens. But, Vancouverites will also be able to tune in. Vancouver station AM 650 has leased its airtime to the Russians for the duration of the Games. So don't be surprised to hear Russian jingles on AM 650 on your way back from work. The Vice President of AM 650 Brad Philips says he is not sure if their station will do the same and go to the Sochi Olympics in four years time, but he says they are hosting the Russian radio because AM 650 has always been a community station, and the 60,000 Russians living here in Metro Vancouver are part of that community as well.
"It creates a great profile for us and raises awareness about the station," says Philips. "And, it is just another way to serve the community and be part of the excitement."
When I wondered if the administrators of AM 650 were at all worried that their listeners might be surprised to hear a foreign language radio instead of the familiar station, Philips said they are making announcements ahead of time to prepare their audience. Philips says he hopes that AM 650 listeners will support the station. "It is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is not something usual, but we will be back to normal after February." Philips notes Russians will also play Canadian music as part of the CRTC rules that require all stations to broadcast a certain amount of Canadian content. But he says it is something Russians are happy to do. It makes sense for them to give the people in Russia a taste of the Canadian music while they are here.
AM 650 did not disclose how much Autoradio paid for their airtime, but Russians are sure spending big to get their presence in town noticed, all in an effort to promote their Sochi Olympics in 2014. Russians rented the Science World, one of the most spectacular and expensive venues in the city, to make it the official Russia House for the Games. The House promises to hold daily parties with lots of music and food. Russian athletes and celebrities are likely to pop up as well. Autoradio are planning their own party at the Russia House, bringing Russia's finest artists and musicians. But, I hear getting tickets to the Russia House might be tricky. So, line up early. And, give Autoradio a listen. Because are not music and passion for the sports the universal language we all understand?
Russian Olympic Team Sent Off To The Vancouver Games With A Prayer: Sport And Religion
On January 28, the Russian Olympic Team, all 175 members of it, will be sent off to the Vancouver Games with a blessing from Patriarch Kirill at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow. A special church service will be held to pray for the Russian athletes at the 2010 Olympics. After the service that will be broadcast live, the team will be heading off to Vancouver. On February 10, the Russian flag will be raised in a ceremony at the Olympic village.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, Moscow -- Photo by Flickr user renata ®
It turns out the tradition to bless the athletes before the Olympics has been observed since 1996 in Russia. Arguably, it is one of those “only in Russia” moments. From my own observation, the presence of religion, which is predominately Orthodox Christianity in Russia, has been a lot more tangible in the Russian society lately, and the athletes are no exception.
I have been noticing a lot of Russian athletes openly crossing themselves and praying before their performances. Of course, back in the Soviet times, that was unheard of. But now, it is definitely becoming more commonplace. From figure skaters to vault jumpers, I see more and more Russian athletes not being afraid or embarrassed to show their religious believes. Many say that religious openness ruined the image of the impeccable, confident sports nation that Russia once was. On the other hand, it is a manifestation of religious freedom to do whatever helps you, as an athlete, to compete better.
It is interesting that the IOC is taking the role of religion in sport a lot more seriously now. The Vancouver Olympic Village will have a religious service center open throughout the Games. The five major religions – Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism – will have worship rooms set up in the center. Even during the 2008 Summer Games in communist China, a religious service center was set up for the athletes to use.
Akhe Theatre: Russian Chaos Descends On Vancouver
The White Cabin
When I found out that Russian Theatre Akhe was making its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Cultural Olympiad, I got moderately excited. It is always a treat to see any kind of Russian theatre here in Canada, but I had no idea what Akhe Theatre was. When I started researching them, I was amazed to find out that the theatre has existed for 21 years now, which made me even more incredulous that I have never heard of them. Turned out Akhe is not your typical Russian theatre. In fact, it is very radically different. Akhe was created as an anti-statement to the classic Russian theatrical tradition. They don’t do Chekhov or Dostoevsky, nor do they try to convey any messages or set any contexts for their audience. When Akhe is on stage, it is always up to the viewer to try to make sense of it all. After watching their performance last week, my advice is - if you ever get a chance to see them, leave your logic at home, sit back and enjoy this Russian take on chaos.
I made a request with Akhe to interview them upon their arrival in Vancouver, which they have kindly agreed to. I was determined to watch their show before I sat down to talk with them, so I went last Thursday. The first thing that struck me when I entered the Performance Works Theatre on Granville Island in time for the 8 PM showing of Akhe’s White Cabin was a note on the wall that said, “WARNING: NUDITY AND SMOKING INVOLVED.” Turned out later there was not just nudity, and a LOT of smoking, but a lot of alcohol, water, ropes and newspapers involved too.
Backstage with Akhe
All throughout the play, I was stunned by how such powerful mental images could be created with completely minimalist tools, many of which actor Maxim Isaev says they pack with them from Russia. Whatever else they need, gets made on the spot. As I was talking to Maxim, actress Natasha Shamina was hard at work cutting a piece of white fabric for a makeshift prop for Friday night’s performance. I was also let in on a secret that all the wine and cigarettes consumed during the performance are absolutely real. Isaev says it is part of who they are as an “engineering” theatre, where it is not just about an actor on stage, but a combination of objects, light, sound and the perception of space – something no one else in Russia has attempted to immitate yet.
I asked Maxim if they chose the White Cabin for Vancouver because it has virtually no text, and so would be understandable across cultures. It turned out that most of Akhe’s shows intentionally have no words in them, whether shown in Russia or abroad. But, it seems the theatre has a special attachment to the White Cabin. The show has been in production for 14 years now, but Isaev says he never gets bored doing it.
“It was made to grow up with us … we change, it changes. It is about the things that are interesting to us all the time, regardless of what is going on.”
What became a revelation to me in the course of my conversation with Maxim was the way people perceive the White Cabin here vs. in Russia. Apparently, the way people choose to concentrate their attention is different. For example, Isaev said they were surprised by how much people laugh during their performances in Canada. As I was talking to Maxim, Natasha Shamina passed by and said with a bit of irony that one of the viewers came forward after one of their shows in Vancouver and said their performance was very funny. But, Maxim says the White Cabin was created to draw little if any laughter. Cultural differences? Isaev says it is hard to say because when people go to see them in Russia, they sort of know what to expect. For an unprepared viewer, Akhe can definitely be a riddle.
Maxim Isaev
As I was talking to Maxim, I could not help but think that it just can’t be the same person whom I saw on the stage yesterday. It was bizarre to meet these very abstract characters in person and see real people behind them. Maxim shared that they liked Vancouver a lot because to them it was unusual. When I asked what was so unusual about Vancouver, he said it had a very pleasant sensation of space. Coming from someone who gets to play with the concept of space on a daily basis, I thought it was an interesting observation about this city. But, it turned out it was not the first time in Canada for Akhe. They toured Quebec four years ago.
The theatre is now done with the PUsh Festival and is off to Toronto and Quebec City. I found out they no longer have a place to call home back in Russia. Their theatre in St. Petersburg was closed down over a fire threat concern after the tragic events at a Perm nightclub where over a hundred people died in a fire that started over faulty firecrackers. Given how much fire and smoke Akhe uses in their shows, it was deemed unsafe. So the theatre is going nomadic for now, visiting numerous countries on their way back. If you get a chance to catch up with them anywhere, you have my thumbs up.
Akhe’s Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/akhe/
Akhe's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/akhegroup
An Interview With Vancouver Canucks Prospect Sergei Shirokov: The Road To The NHL
In this post, I am continuing my interview series focusing on Russians who have reached certain heights abroad. And, today’s interview is with an athlete whose name you have probably caught on TV or in papers at the end of the summer if you have some sort of interest in hockey.
Sergei Shirokov is a 23-year-old former CSKA Moscow KHL winger who got signed by the Vancouver Canucks in August of 2009. Shirokov is in the process of adjusting to the new League’s demands, and it is still a hit-and-miss game for him. Shirokov left behind a lucrative contract in Russia for a chance to play in the NHL. Right now, he plays for the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks the Manitoba Moose, but it looks like he is not letting the demotion become a bump on his road to the NHL fame.
Sergei Shirokov
I think what often gets missed by the press and hockey fans when it comes to up-and-coming foreign players like Shirokov, is how much of a transition it is sometimes to change leagues and get the same degree of success. Inspired by players like Jaromir Jagr and Alexander Ovechkin, we now expect instantaneous success with minimal time for adjustment from anyone who dares try out the NHL. But, is that a fair expectation to have?
I had an email interview with Sergei Shirokov to talk about his career and the rite of passage in the new League (answers translated from Russian).
YTFiles: Sergei, you are currently playing for the Manitoba Moose, and are the top scorer on the team. But, I am sure what you really came here for was Vancouver Canucks. When do you think you will be able to return to play for the Canucks again?
S.S.: Of course, I came to Canada to play in the NHL. I try to show good results and quality of the game. I am sure that I will still have a chance to play for the Vancouver Canucks, and I will try to use that chance fully.
YTFiles: You have signed with the Vancouver Canucks just four months ago and had to move here from Moscow before the pre-season. How easy was that move for you?
S.S.: My decision to sign a contract with the Vancouver Canucks was well thought-out. My family and friends supported me. The move itself was easy for me, and the adaptation was not a problem either. I had enough free time to see Vancouver. Of course, I have not seen everything, but I will have time to do that.
YTFiles: How is your English now? I heard it was a bit of a problem for you in the beginning. Are you still using an interpreter?
S.S: My English is a lot better now. I understand pretty much everything. But I still have lots of time – I will learn it.
YTFiles: Do you miss home?
S.S.: Of course I miss it! As soon as the season is over, I will fly to Russia.
YTFiles: Many Russian and Canadian papers were saying that you took some financial risks by leaving KHL to be able to play for the Canucks. Are you generally a risk taker?
S.S.: It all depends on the situation. As I am getting older, I try to make more well thought-out decisions. I can’t say that I took risks, I knew what I was going for.
YTFiles: The last Russian player whom Vancouver Canucks signed was Artem Chubarov who defected back to the KHL in 2004/2005. So that makes you the first Russian player to be signed by the Canucks in five years. Why do you think the Vancouver Canucks did not hire a single Russian player for the last five years?
S.S.: It is hard for me to say. I do not even know what the reason might be, but not all the NHL teams have Russian players in their rosters after all…
Sergei Shirokov
YTFiles: How different is it playing in the NHL versus playing in the KHL back home? I would assume there are some differences…
S.S.: There are indeed many differences. Currently, the level of the game is higher in the NHL, than it is in Russia. Also, the logistical issues are handled on a better level here. You are also treated completely differently as a player. That comes through in all the minor things.
YTFiles: In your previous interviews, you said that the training schedule in Canada is a lot more flexible than it is in Russia. Do you, in general, get told what to do or how to train here in Canada? Or, do you decide everything yourself?
S.S.: You decide everything yourself. You are simply given a schedule of the games and trainings. So yeah, everything is much simpler here…
YTFiles: I know that right now Vyacheslav Bykov (YTFiles – the head coach of the Russian men’s hockey team) is putting together the roster for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. If you get called upon to play for the national team, are you ready to be on the team?
S.S.: Of course, 100% ready!
YTFiles: What is your prognosis for the gold medal match in Vancouver? Many people are saying we will see Russia vs. Canada in the hockey final. How do you evaluate Russia’s chances to win the gold medal?
S.S.: It is hard for me to make any predictions. Of course, I want Russia to win the Olympic gold. But, there are many worthy opponents that our team will face. It will be interesting to watch all of the teams, but if Russia plays Canada in the finals, that will be twice as interesting.
YTFiles: The NHL is still in the process of trying to figure out if they are going to let the NHL players take part in the next Winter Olympics, which will be in Sochi, Russia. What are your thoughts on that?
S.S.: I think that the best players should represent their countries at the Olympics. I am sure managers of the NHL will make the right decision.
YTFiles: As a kid, have you always dreamt of being a hockey player, or did you have other options?
S.S.: I have not even dreamt of doing anything else. When I was three years old, my Dad taught me how to skate, and than I started training at the CSKA when I was in first grade. At thirteen, I moved to Moscow and lived at a special training school overseen by the CSKA. After I signed my first contract at forteen, I understood that hockey was in fact my profession.
YTFiles: You have now played a number of games in front of the Canadian audience. Do you feel that people here in Canada like and appreciate hockey more than people do back in Russia?
S.S.: No, I don’t think so. Russia and Canada are both hockey nations, and people love hockey both here and there. But in Canada, hockey is publicized a lot more than it is in Russia. And, even the way fans cheer is different!
YTFiles: Really? How so?
S.S.: It is hard to explain. But, in Canada people come to see the show, have a good time and relax. In Russia, I think, people put more soul into it and are just more emotional when they cheer. I mean, it is hard to compare, but I can definitely say that the support of the fans is something you feel whether you are in Russia or Canada, and you can’t thank them enough for it.
Big thank you to Sergei for letting me in on his career at this moment. Stay tune for more exciting interviews to come!
**All photos provided by Sergei Shirokov**
Out Of This World: Cosmonaut Maksim Surayev And His Blog
There used to be a time in Russia when cosmonauts were more popular than movie stars. Back in the day, most people knew their names by heart. Now, hardly anyone in Russia can name a single Russian cosmonaut, aside from maybe Yuri Malenchenko who made headlines when he got married in space in 2003. Yet, decades ago, cosmonauts were more than celebrities. They were these unapproachable legends that everybody aspired to. No one ever saw them or talked to them, but people would cut out their photos from newspapers and hang them in their kitchens. But, that was when "cosmos" was every kid's dream, and cosmonauts were the selected few who got a chance to get that much closer to it.
Maksim Surayev - Photo by Russian Federal Space Agency
Nowadays, despite the fact that cosmonauts in Russia are largely unknown, they are way more accessible than they used to be. One example is Russian cosmonaut Maksim Surayev, who keeps his own "in-space" blog. Surayev has been onboard the International Space Station for over three months now and has been blogging live from space all this time. I have to say I got hyper like a kid when I started reading his stuff. Surayev talks about all the different fun gadgets that he gets to play with at the station and explains cool space phenomena with photos and videos attached. He also answers questions from his readers. For example, his last post was addressing a question about the rumour that astronauts get bright flashes in their eyes when they try to go to sleep in space. According to Surayev, that is totally true!
And, in case you were wondering, Surayev does not blog in English...yet.
Now don't you wish Yuri Gagarin kept a blog back in the day? That would make for one fun read.
Top Ten Traditions No Winter Holiday Season In Russia Goes Without
Winter holidays are something Russians hold dear. It is the season when people really kick back and relax. Unlike here in North America, the holiday season in Russia stretches over good ten days: it is the dead season for business, and it becomes almost sacrilegious to work over holidays.
Now, let’s make it clear what holidays we are talking about – the majority of people in Russia identify as Orthodox Christian, so we also celebrate Christmas, just not on December 25th, but on January 7th. So, we celebrate Christmas after the New Year’s. But, the fact that the New Year's is celebrated ahead of Christmas, it is probably the staple holiday for most Russians. So, all the cooking and presents come around on December 31 with big parties that can go on for days. You know what I mean, if you ever partied with Russians on New Year's 
By Christmas time, most people are emotionally, physically and financially exhausted, so our Christmas is a much lesser celebration than the New Year’s is. In any case, winter holidays are so revered in Russia that there is now a set of traditions that no winter holiday season in Russia ever goes without. And, here is my take on the top 10!
Photo by Flickr user Absinthfairy
1. Elka, or Christmas tree – always in the center of any New Year’s celebration in Russia. The difference – people in Russia do not have the patience to put up their Christmas Trees a month before holidays the way it is done here. In fact, it is not uncommon to see someone drag a Christmas Tree into their apartment hours before the clock ticks midnight. But, once the Christmas Tree is hastily put together for the New Year’s Eve, it can stay there for ages. I remember in my family we were always so upset about the holidays being over that we refused to put away our Christmas Tree until February. Oh, and most Russians prefer to get real Christmas trees, the ones that have that fantastic pine smell. And, while I love, love, love real Christmas Trees, our family decided against getting the real ones, because we just could not get over the idea of wasting a whole tree every year. It is also not a common thing to put up Christmas lights around your house or balcony in Russia. Just not one of the traditions yet, but I am sure it will be picked up soon.
2. Last-minute gift shopping – here, we are no different. Russians like to take their time and many leave it until one day before the New Year’s to do their gift shopping. But, unlike in North America, where the last-minute Christmas shopping is usually associated with men, in Russia it is gender independent. People just do not stress much about the gifts, and the culture of consumerism that dominates North American Christmas is definitely not as out-of-proportion as it is here.
3. The dinner – yum! What is interesting about the New Year’s feast in Russia is that if someone did a random sampling of food from 100 different households across Russia on December 31 and compared it, chances are the food would be 90% similar. The staple items that absolutely have to be on the table are - seledka pod shuboi, Olivie salad, champagne, Napoleon cake and mandarin oranges.
Now, I am going to share my Mom’s recipes for two of the delicious foods I mentioned - seledka pod shuboi and Olivie salad. You have to try them. They are yummy!
seledka pod shuboi - Photo by Flickr user minas_h
seledka pod shuboi
This takes a bit of work, but it is yummy. Purchase seledka (salted herring ~ 300 grams; it is usually sold in many Russian or Polish food stores), remove all the bones and cut into small 1-cm pieces. Boil potatoes (4), beets (3) and eggs (4) separately. Grate potatoes, beets and eggs separately too. Mix each grated ingredient with mayo. Now, on a large dish lay out in layers one by one starting with a layer of the potato mix, followed by a layer of processed seledka. Cover up with a layer of chopped fresh onions, followed by a layer of grated boiled egg, than a layer of beet to top it up. Top that beet with more mayo (you will need ~400 grams in total). Let it stand in the fridge for about 1 hour to cool it down. That is it. Enjoy!
Olivie salad
Olivie salad - Photo by Flickr user belamaxx
Also takes time, but it is really, really good! Boil 4 eggs, 3 potatoes (in skins) and 2 carrots (also in skins). Prepare ~300 grams of your favourite meet (boiled or lightly fried, sausage will work too). You will also need a can of green sweet peas, 3-4 medium sized dill pickles, green onions and mayo. Cut the boiled eggs, potatoes (peel the skins), carrots (peel the skins) and pickles into small 0.5-cm cubes (the smaller, the better it looks). Cut the meet into slightly larger cubes. Chop the green onions. Mix everything together. Add the green peas, salt and mayo. Keep in the fridge for 30 minutes. It is ready to go!
But, back to our list of top ten New Year’s traditions…
Ironiya Sud'bi
4. Watching Ironiya Sud'bi – in all honesty, I think this is a cultural phenomenon. Here is the story. There is this New Year themed movie called Ironiya Sud'bi, which came out back in 1975 that quite literally gets watched every December 31st of every year in all of Russia. All major TV channels show it before midnight, and it has almost become a good omen for the next year to watch that movie on the New Year's Eve. And, the movie is really good, but everyone knows what is coming up next, people quote it as it goes, and for some mysterious reason, people still keep watching it. I guess, the only movie I can sort of compare it too is Home Alone: we have all seen that movie a million times, and yet there is something about that kid that just makes you want to watch that movie over and over again. It is kind of like that with Ironiya Sud'bi, but on a more cultural level.
5. Dressing up for the New Year’s depending on what Chinese calendar year it is – I know, this sounds weird. You might think, what does Chinese calendar have to do with the way New Year’s is being celebrated in Russia? But, Russians have always identified years with the corresponding animal in the Chinese calendar. It has just become a fun tradition to follow. Part of that following is dressing up on New Year’s in accordance with what lunar year is coming up – so, for example, year 2010 is the year of the tiger, and tigers have stripes on their skin, so I can guarantee people in Russia will show up for New Year’s parties in clothing with stripes this year. God forbid anyone wear bright colours because supposedly the tiger does not like bright things and that might ruin your whole next year. I know that it sounds ludicrous, but people genuinely believe in this kind of stuff. But, the craze does not stop there. Russian newspapers and magazines around this time of the year are filled with articles on how to decorate your dinner table and your house to “please” the year of the tiger, so you do not end up a mess by the end of it.
6. The New Year’s televised message from the President – classic! Ever since the late 90’s, watching the New Year’s message from the President minutes before midnight has become a tradition everyone actually waits for. Usually, the President talks about the past year: what went wrong, what was good. It is basically a wrap-up of the year past, and wishes for a good year to come. Interestingly, Vladimir Putin was the first President who took the New Year’s message “outdoors.” Previously, all of them were taped indoors, but Putin was the first one to escape the stuffy studio and deliver his message from inside Moscow’s heart – the Red Square. Here is President Medvedev's New Year's address from last year.
7. The midnight countdown – this one is huge because traditionally, the clock tower in Red Square – Kuranti has been used as the chief countdown clock for the country. The countdown was always broadcast on television, and it is with the last 12 beats that people would open champagne bottles and start celebrating.
8. The fireworks – fireworks are an absolute must at midnight on New Year’s. And, it gets so noisy and loud that the whole past-midnight commotion when car alarms get activated and windows get blown out has just become part of the celebrations.
9. Starting to celebrate the New Year’s as early as 3 PM on December 31 – this one is purely geographical. Russia has 11 different time zones – and given that many people have relatives and friends living in places like Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the far East, they have to call them up at 3 PM to wish them a happy New Year because it is already midnight there.
10. The “Old” New Year – this one is completely and totally illogical to most Westerners. Because how can the New Year be “old”? Well, in Russia it can. It is celebrated on January 14, and it really is just the New Year celebrated according to the Julian calendar. Russia used the Julian calendar until 1918, after which it switched to the Gregorian calendar that was used everywhere else. It is a bit weird because the Christmas tradition did not change. The January 7th Christmas is the Julian calendar version of December 25th Gregorian calendar Christmas. But, everyone loves to celebrate New Year’s twice regardless, although the “old” New Year parties are definitely quieter.
When Fate Gives You A Second Chance, You Take It: An Interview With Former Russian, Now Canadian Skier And Olympian Ivan Babikov
Ivan Babikov In Competition
Getting second chances in life does not happen often, but it did happen to Ivan Babikov – a Canadian cross-country skier whose family came to Canada from Russia to look for a better life. An experienced skier in his native Russia, Babikov came to Canada in 2003 with little hope of ever racing again. Fast forward to 2009, and Ivan Babikov is on the Canadian Olympic team, representing Canada at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. After years of struggling to get his Canadian citizenship, Babikov had to skate for Russia until 2008. He now calls the town of Canmore, Alberta his new home and training ground, and he is sure living his dream…
I caught up with Ivan on the phone after he arrived from Davos, Switzerland, where he was competing in a World Cup event. We had a quick interview that brought up many interesting details about one man's tough journey to the Olympics.
--Ivan, first of all, congratulations on finishing in the top 10 in the men's cross-country ski team relay in Norway at the end of November. But, I heard that the Canadian team overall did not show very strong results in Finland just weeks ago. You actually did the best coming in 38th in the 15 km race. How is the team feeling about the results?
Yeah, in Finland, no one expected what happened to our coach. It was hard. He broke his hip. He will be back soon. Of course, we had to get used to working without him. It was hard in the beginning, but these little misfortunes are survivable, so it is ok. We still have time to prepare for the Olympics. We hope everything will be ok.
--How do you feel around your new Canadian teammates?
We have an awesome team. The guys are very friendly. We are all in it together, and no problems ever arise. We are a very close bunch and don’t make foes of each other.
--But, the language does not seem to be a barrier for you at all, does it?
No.
--When was your fist race as a Canadian athlete? And, how many races have you already completed for Canada?
Back in the day I was living here in Canada, but officially I was a Russian athlete. The sport is regulated by the International Federation, and every athlete has a license, so to speak, which defines what country you compete for. Back than, I still had Russian passport, so technically I represented Russia, although I was living and running races here. But, yeah, officially my first race for Canada was in December of 2008. And, right now, I am in my second season with the Canadian team.
--So, are you used to wearing the maple leaf on your uniform by now?
Of course, you get used to good things fast (laughs).
Ivan Babikov In Competition
--You were training and living in Canada when you came here in 2003. Did you make a decision to get the Canadian citizenship back than?
To be honest, when my family and I immigrated to Canada, I did not think that I would continue to race. I thought I would just get a job of some kind. I was doing relatively well in Russia, but I was not stellar. I had some good results, but I was not thinking about it seriously. I was not expecting to come here to race and represent Canada. I really came here looking for a better life for my family, so that my son could live in a good country, go to a good school and so on. When we came here, I was not even training, because I had a job in Toronto. So, I was not hoping for good results. But, than I had my first competition, did rather well and I thought why not try again? There were a lot of difficulties along the way, but it happened such that I am still here.
--Do you feel completely at home here now?
Yeah, Canada is probably home already. I have not been to Russia in a while. I have friends there of course. But, my entire family is now here.
--What did you find to be the most striking difference between your training and competitions representing Canada vs. Russia? For example, I heard Russian hockey players who come to play in the NHL say that that the training regimen here is a lot more individualistic, whereas in Russia, it is a lot more team centered with less freedom to do what you want to do.
I am a little surprised to hear that from the hockey players. Their sport is a lot more team-based. But, I think they have a point. It is sort of like that. I think it is because here in Canada you are being treated more as a human being. Canadians understand that if they make you comfortable, you will show better results on the track, you see? In Russia, it is not like that – there, everybody is put under the same label and being told, “Do this, because I know that is a good way to do it for everyone.” Here, you are asked what will ultimately work for you, what you think works well to get better results. So, it is a win-win situation here: athletes feel good because we are being treated as human beings, and if we succeed, the system also wins. It really is a double win. So, the approach here is simpler and more professional than in Russia. But, I think it is because the training system in Russia is a remnant of the way things were in the Soviet Union. There you treat training as you job. So, if you do not show up for work, you can be fired, etc. Your salary depends on it. And, here you do it as long as it is fun. Nobody is going to make you do anything, so if you want to go train, you do; if you don’t, than you don’t. In Russia, if you feel tired or do not feel well, they still say, “It is ok, go train.” Here, it is up to you. It is a more relaxed approach, but I think the results only benefit from that.
--So, it is the mentality that is different than?
Yeah, absolutely different. For Canadians - it is all about fun. For them, even if you do not do so well in a race, it is still fine. In Russia, even if you do well, you are being told, “it is no good, you still have to work on this and that…,” and you don’t feel satisfied as the result of that.
--You are on Twitter a lot. But, Twitter is hot with athletes lately – some of them use it to interact with fans, others use it for self-promotion. Why do you use it? (YTFiles – Twitter is a microblogging platform that allows users to interact in 140-character messages).
I would not say I Tweet a lot. There are other guys on the team who are even more active than me. I kind of do it sometimes just because everybody does it. People follow me, it must be of interest to someone. I just like to inform people about what I do, where I am, how I feel and so on. I think it is more for myself too, just to let go of some emotions. Just to show what I did and show to someone that I train, and I feel better because of that (laughs).
--Did you set your aspirations for Vancouver 2010?
No, I try not to think about it. Many North Americans have that mentality, as you said, of setting goals and striving toward something. I try not to think about it and see what happens. I will do my best to get the best results, but the thought of it is not in my head. I don’t wake up every morning and think about it – I think it would be too hard psychologically, especially for me. I never make grandiose plans. Of course, I go train every day and do the maximum to squeeze out everything from myself in training and competition, but the results vary: sometimes you don’t do well, sometimes you do better…
--Were you part of the “Own The Podium” program heading into the Olympics, or did the change of citizenship interfere with that? (YTFiles – “Own the Podium” is program launched in 2005 to prepare Canada to become the top winter sporting nation in the world by 2010).
Yes, they support me. They supported me all the way back since 2006, when I was just settling in. They understood that I am a team candidate, and backed me up. Getting citizenship ended up being a very long process, but the program managers tried to help me, which was kind of them.
--Do you hope to race in Sochi, Russia at the 2014 Olympic Games, or you are not making such long-term plans yet?
Of course I would want to. It would have been great. The Olympics will be in Russia. But, we will see. So far, I have the desire to compete for as long as I can. But, you never know how it will turn out with health and everything. Of course, if I have the means, the desire to race and good health, I will be there.
--You think the "home charm" will work?
I do not know where my home charm is anymore (laughs). I hope that it will help me here in Canada, and it will help me in Russia too.
--During the Olympic Games in Vancouver, there will be the Sochi 2014 Russia House where many of the Russian athletes, officials and entertainers will gather for the duration of the Games. Are you going to pay a visit?
I will be in Whistler. There will be a Canada House there. So, going to Vancouver for Russia House would be a long trip. The same thing happened in Turin (YTFiles – the capital of the 2006 Winter Olympics) where the Russia House was a four-hour drive from the skiing venues. That is why we never actually showed up at the Russia House back than. Typically, athletes like us who have a long stretch of competitions do not even have a chance to get out and see the Opening or Closing ceremonies. We start on the second day of the Games and go until the last, so we do not like to spend time and energy on things like that. But, if I had a chance to drop by, why not? I would go. I keep in touch with the guys from the Russian team, we are still friends.
--So, you do keep up in touch with the Russian national team?
With the athletes, yes. Because we were all on the same team at one time and represented the same country. Of course, things like that do not just go away…
--Why did you choose to settle down in Canmore, Alberta? Was it for training purposes?
Yeah, when I first came, I got in touch with Cross-Country Canada and I was told that the team is being formed here in Canmore. But, the training conditions here make for a very good training ground – the hills and the snow…Canmore is a hub for skiing and biathlon in a way.
--Have you had a chance to explore Canada and travel around? Or, are you entirely focused on training and competitions right now?
All my travel is limited to competitions – so when there is a Cup of Canada, or the National Championships, I travel around. So, of course I go places, but all of Canada? I did not explore all of Canada yet.
--What do you love to do in your free time, if there is such a thing for you?
Yeah, there is very little of it. But, I spend most of it with my family, my wife and son, or in front of a computer.
Ivan Babikov In Training
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Ivan Babikov In Training
YTFiles -- Photos and video attached are courtesy of Ivan Babikov. The interview was translated from Russian.
A Glimpse Of Alexander Ovechkin At The Bay Olympic Superstore In Vancouver: PHOTO and VIDEO
Alexander "The Great" Ovechkin has descended on the city of Vancouver to sign autographs this PM at the Hudson's Bay Company Olympic Superstore in the Pacific Center. Unquestionably, Ovechkin is one of the best players in the NHL, and he is becoming quite a socialite too. Today, over 500 people packed the Olympic Superstore waiting for hours in a long line-up just to meet Ovie.
Yesterday, I got an email from VANOC saying Ovechkin will be in town signing autographs. The only catch - I had to pre-purchase a merchandise item for Ovechkin to sign. It also said prices started at $98, which kind of made me abandon the idea of going, but than I figured I should go anyway to catch a glimpse of AO and take a few photos for my blog. But, when I walked into the HBC Olympic Superstore tonight, I saw hockey love all around -- people dressed in Ovechkin's jerseys itching to meet the big man.
I snapped a few pictures which you can see below. I also shot a video of the actual signing and the video of the insane line-up. Talk about "superstar" appeal, eh?
SochiReporter – The Beginnings Of Citizen Journalism In Russia; An EXCLUSIVE Interview With Founder Alexander Zolotarev
13/12/2009: Please note some corrections that have been made in the post.
In essence, the concept of citizen reporting is fairly simple – you see something newsworthy happening around you, you reach for your laptop or smart phone, snap a few photos, upload it to a hosting platform, add commentary, … and, boom, you have a citizen report before any major news wires find out that the news even happened. The simplicity and promptness of citizen journalism is what is slowly making it the new way to do news-gathering. But, for many Internet users here in North America the concept of “citizen journalism” is still a little fuzzy -- many are still unsure about the legalities, logistics and the editorial integrity of citizen reporting. In many places in Russia though, the concept of taking the responsibility to report news while doing it for free is still very, very raw.
Alexander Zolotarev, SochiReporter Founder and CEO
But, where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity. And, with the Winter Olympic Games coming to Russia in 2014, a group of citizen media enthusiasts headed by Moscow State University Faculty of Journalism lecturer and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Fulbright Scholar Alexander Zolotarev decided to give the “made-in-Russia” citizen journalism a try.
Now, why tether citizen journalism, a city in Southern Russia and the Olympics? Well, the upcoming 2014 Olympics in Sochi are a big deal for Russia. From what I am hearing and seeing on Russian news wires and blogs, there seems to be a genuine interest and excitement about the Games. However, there has been some controversy surrounding the Olympic construction in the city. Concerns over the potential threat to the region's ecosystems have been raised in the past. But, these are the issues that any Olympic city faces. And, if that is something that might get conversations going, there needs to be a place for people to talk about it. The idea is that the city is going through a major transformation heading into the Games and there is a need to provide a portal for discussion to take place.
But, any experiment needs a test lab. So, Zolotarev and the team have created a platform that lets the residents of Sochi try their hand at citizen reporting – the recently launched Drupal based portal is called SochiReporter, and it has all the tools necessary for people to create, share and distribute content about their city.
Exclusively for this blog, I got a chance to talk with Alexander Zolotarev, the man behind the idea of SochiReporter. Alex works out of Sochi and Moscow, coordinating both the entrepreneurial and editorial aspects of the project.
Alexander, when did the site officially launch, and what is the latest news on SochiReporter?
SochiReporter officially launched on October 27. We started testing the website in the middle of September granting access to a limited group of people: friends, colleagues, web experts and professionals.
The latest video report featured on the site brings the opinions of the citizens of Sochi about the new Sochi Olympics logo, which was presented recently. The design is based on the domain name of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee - sochi.ru, which conveys the idea of the hi-tech Olympics, and how the Olympics are adjusting to the digital age and aim at being closer to and reaching the younger audience, the digital generation. So one of our ‘sochireporters’ – as we call our citizen journalists – made a video in which she asks Sochi locals, ranging from a neighborhood fisherman to a hotel administrator – how they like and understand the new logo. Exciting!
How and when did the idea of SochiReporter come to you?
It was like a flash, which came into my mind soon after the city was elected to host the 2014 Winter Olympics. It was a great opportunity to bring to life my passion for the digital technologies and the new media. In 2007-2008, I was writing a thesis about it at the Faculty of Journalism Moscow State University which I am a graduate of, and at the same time was a Fulbright scholar in the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. I heard about the Knight News Challenge and decided to apply. So the jurors at the Knight Foundation liked my idea of building a digital archive of the pre-Olympic city involving citizen journalists and I became one of the winners of the 2008 contest.
So, the project is funded by the Knight Foundation?
Yes, correct. By the way, the contest is still on, in its fourth year, and you can apply. The deadline is December 15.
Do people in Sochi know about your project? Are they aware of the brand and functionality? How willing are they to participate?
SochiReporter Journalism 2.0 Workshop
Yes, I am actively promoting the project in Sochi, bringing to light the new opportunities and functions, which SochiReporter gives. We had a good media coverage of our seminar called ‘Journalism 2.0: the New Trends’ which we organized at the end of July for the students of five leading Sochi-based universities, and at this seminar then I announced the contest for the best story, photo and video among those students. We provided them with cameras, HD video cameras and voice recorders, basically armored them with the tech gadgets which helped them produce their materials. Our tech partners Kodak and Olympus presented the devices to the young people.
Those last three weeks I gave about 20 presentations and open lessons in Sochi-based schools and universities, meeting with high school teachers and presenting the project for university professors at the thematic meeting in the House of Education of Sochi, talking with young TV journalism students in the TV school for teenagers, etc. The young people are our key audience (hence our colorful, ‘adrenaline’ design), as they are the most active web users in Sochi.
How big is the pool of Sochi reporters at this point?
About 40 citizen reporters. We have been on for 5 weeks. But we are steadily growing as new users register on the website.
Are you happy with the content you are getting? What do you consider to be your greatest success with SochiReporter so far? What are some of the things that still need to be figured out?
I like the content which is being generated and uploaded on the website and I like the personal styles and voices of our reporters. One of the interesting things which SochiReporter presented on the website is the so-called Time Machine, a special section which helps to organize and archive all the materials generated by users, including the videos. It will enable any tourist or journalist who comes to Sochi in 2014 to travel back to any date in the past and see the picture of the day, all the stories and photos and videos which were uploaded by users on that day.
We still need to extend the English version of the website and introduce the more functional social network component, which we are working on now.
Citizen journalism is still in the up-and-coming stage in Russia. Does that help you or work against you in your project?
SochiReporter has an opportunity and was actually born to promote the digital tools in Sochi, and foster the ‘webization’ of the city, which is preparing to host the Olympics. So we are experimenting in finding new ways to attract and involve users, the Sochi citizens, to generate content and tell the story of their city, the story of transformation. We don’t expect the stories to be professional in a journalistic way, as our reporters are not professional journalists. But we expect their stories be hearty and sincere. And this is very important. This is thrilling!
How do you see SochiReporter growing after the 2014 games?
Do you think we’ll turn into an e-shop and will sell tickets to the post-Olympic skating rink? I’m kidding. Well, if stars align, by 2014 SochiReporter will grow into a known and strong web resource, and it should continue being. I see no reasons not to. Olympics are not just a destination, it’s also a factor that affects and leaves a huge legacy behind. And as time goes by, and technology develops, I bet SochiReporter will evolve.
Alexander Zolotarev is on Twitter @ZanderZolotarev. SochiReporter also has a Twitter account of its own @SochiReporter.
Video showing how SochiReporter was created
All photo and video materials were kindly provided by Alexander Zolotarev.