The culture of squandering: is there an antidote?
Vancouver journalist Bob Mackin is one of the most respected local reporters, so when he published a story about Russia's spending at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, I took notice. I mean, I've heard stories about insane dollars that the Russian delegation shed to promote Sochi games in Vancouver, but my jaw literally dropped when I read the findings of the June 18th audit of the Olympic spending commissioned by the Russian budget watchdog.
Russia House, February 2010
The most expensive item on the list was the Sochi Russia House. It came at a price of close to $8 million. I've been to Russia House myself during Vancover Olympics, and I could almost hear the sound of money going down the drain in that place. From non-stop entertainment to all-you-can-drink open bar, the decadence was in the air. I was told it was a way to show the so-called "Russian hospitality." I didn't buy that argument, but if that was part of the Sochi PR campaign, sure...
The next most costly item on the list was the Olympic flag handover ceremony. That wasn't much of an eye-opener either. These things are staged to impress, so blowing that much cash on a five-minute show, likely to be seen by millions of people around the world, made marketing sense.
But it was a different line of spending that made me cringe. The report points out that Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko spent $29,980 on his 20-day stay at the Fairmont Hotel, plus $4,800 in breakfast vouchers and $300 for Internet access. By comparison, Canada’s Minister of State for Sport Gary Lunn billed Canadian taxpayers $10,213.49 for his Vancouver and Whistler hotel rooms from Feb. 4 to March 1. Not a bargain either, but the contrast is there. In fact, if you work out the numbers, Mr. Mutko's stay in Vancouver could probably have easily financed the equipment for the next generation of Russian bobsledders, for example. And I'm not talking about the elite up-and-coming athletes. I'm talking about the young kids back in the Russian periphery who have to share Soviet era sleds simply because their parents can't afford anything better. I understand that future Olympians have to be raised in Spartan conditions, but this is no Sparta, this is Absurdville, because these kids are the ones who will be expected to earn Russia those coveted medals in 2018 and beyond.
Of course, spending lavishly has always been part of elitist sub-culture in Russia. And that is a bigger part of the problem. In Russia, for people in power, the magical word LUXURY still means status, and status means respect. For middle-aged power elite in Russia, it still comes down to the kind of shoes you wear, the kind of car you drive, and the kind of posh ambience you create around yourself.
When President Medvedev toured the United States at the end of June, he and President Obama went for a burger at Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, Virginia. They went for a place that was as casual as it gets, very American, very conversation friendly... and, an absolute nightmare for any self-respecting businessman or politician in Russia. Anyone who considers themselves to be a prominent member of the business or political community in Russia wouldn't dare go to a burger joint for lunch. Instead, they would spend an hour driving to a very expensive restaurant, dine on the most expensive food and drinks imaginable.. all alone so as not to be bothered, and then spend another hour getting back to downtown Moscow to put on the busy face and go about their business again.
And that is exactly the kind of culture that Mr. Medvedev will have to fight, if he wants his Sillicon Valley mock-up project Skolkovo to succeed. When the Russian Presdient was visiting San Francisco in June, he Tweeted, "The biggest benefit that the Sillicon Valley provides is the conversation. Not the frivolous kind, but the business oriented, productive one."
And that is bang on. Skolkovo will never become the Sillicon Valley of the East, unless influential people in Russia don't stop wasting money on pretentiousness, trapped in their "insider" social circles. With the past focus on economy grounded in oil and gas, that might have still worked. But, with Russia's new ambition to re-orient themselves for technological innovations and being part of the global market, the love of ostentation has to be thrown out of the window because that is how the rest of the world operates. And that is the bottom line.
World Cup 2010: Lukas Podolski and Yuri Gagarin – Find 10 differences
In the spirit of Day 3 of the World Cup and a triumphant victory of Germany against Australia today, I am posting the following side-by-side portraits of Germany's top forward Lukas Podolski and Russia's first man in space Yuri Gagarin.
Ever since I first saw Podolski play for Germany in 2006, I have been amazed by the striking similarity in physical appearance between the German player and Gagarin. For me, it is their eyes and smiles that look almost exactly the same!
The irony is that Yuri Gagarin is still remembered for his amazing personality and a very warm smile that captivated the world in 1961. A lot of actors tried playing his part in the movies that were shot about Gagarin's life after he was killed in 1968. But, finding an actor that actually looked liked Gagarin and radiated the same warm smile was next to impossible, and to this day I have yet to see a good cinematic impersonation of Gagarin.
My point? Maybe Podolski should be auditioned.
Russians Lose IIHF Title: Vancouver Olympics Nightmare Re-lived
So, it happened. Russia lost to Czech Republic 2-1 in the finals of the IIHF world championships in Germany.
But, is all lost? As in, will Russia lose again in Sochi in 2014? Because winning the hockey title seems to be the ultimate goal for the Russians in Sochi, part of the "if we lose hockey, doing well in any other sport does not really matter" mentality. Hockey is the king of winter sports in the minds of Russians, so losing in Sochi is technically not an option, but is it?
After the Olympics here in Vancouver, one of the Canadian reporters covering hockey during the winter games was complaining to me about the unwillingness of the Russian players to talk to the English-speaking media after the matches. He also told me one thing that really stuck in my mind -- he said Russian players have this "world against us" attitude. An attitude that they have now extended to include the Russian media after videos showing key Russian players smoking at a restaurant after the game with Kazakhstan popped up on the Internet, causing a massive outrage at home. After learning about the videos, the Russian team went on an organized "media strike" when the entire team shunned the reporters, leaving many important tactical questions answered in the midst of the tournament.
Ilya Kovalchuk devastated after loss. Photo credit: Martin Rose, Bongarts/Getty Images
But, if the team can "organize" themselves against Russian media in the wake of the allegations of discipline violations, they can "organize" themselves against anyone else, including coaches, staff, and management. One thing they sure could not organize themselves against today were the Czechs who wanted the victory ... badly. The last time that the Czechs won was in 2005, and the spark with which they played today was akin to the spark with which Ovechkin, Kovalcuk and others ended the 15-year title drought in the gold game victory over Canadians in 2008. That spark was not even remotely present in the game against the Czechs today.
So what is next? Well, fixing attitudes does not come easy. Hiring coaches that can make their players leave all the drama on the bench, concentrate on the game and convince them to be open and polite with media might be more attainable.
Meanwhile, Russia is ending a disastrous Olympic season with a silver IIHF world medal. Not too shabby if you really think about it.
“Canada Believes In Canucks” … and Russia Does Too!
Vancouver Canucks - Los Angeles Kings Playoff Game #2, April 17, 2010
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**
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?
Russia’s National Soccer Team Does Not Advance Into The 2010 World Cup Finals – National Calamity?
Image by Flickr user Natahen
Today, the Russian national soccer squad lost in the second leg of the qualifiers for the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. The team lost to Slovenia -- 0-1. This means the Russian team will not be going to the World Cup championships in June of next year. And, it is something that still has not quite sunk in for many soccer fans back in Russia. The Russian-language sports channels are discussing nothing but soccer, analyzing every move that the Russian players made in that match to try to understand where the things went wrong. But, the general atmosphere is that of disbelief and confusion.
Now, soccer was always a big thing in Russia. And, I mean BIG. However, in the decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the level of soccer in Russia has subsided to well below average. But, the love for the beautiful game has been resurrected after a strong showing of the team at the 2008 European Championships. Out of nowhere, Russia advanced from the group stage, past the Netherlands and into the semifinals to wind up with a bronze medal in the end.
Ever since, soccer has been the nation’s obsession. Now, as Russia was trying to make it into the 2010 World Cup, the entire country was holding its breath before Wednesday’s game with Slovenians. Russians won the first game on home turf in Moscow - 2:1 last Saturday, but the victory meant nothing until the second and final match in Slovenia. But, the stars just were not aligned for the Russian team today – with two red cards, a messed up player formation and sub par fitness levels, there was little that the team and the head coach Guus Hiddink could really do.
In any case, I am already looking forward to the World Cup championships in South Africa next summer, albeit I will have one less team to cheer for.