30.07.2008
A new phenomenon of in the sphere of Belarusian and Russian physical culture and sport has become the establishment of sports organizations of the Union State. The first – and so far the only one – is the Boxing Federation which was set up in 2002 on the initiative of a famous Russian boxer Viktor Grigorievich Rybakov. At that time in the interview he talked about the prospective training for the Olympic Games as a single team. Deputy Director of the Federation became Vyacheslav Evgenievich Yanovskiy, a Vitebsk boxer and Olympic champion.
However, the idea to revive boxing school of the USSR age appeared unrealizable, at least, for the time being. “Boxing Federation exists only on paper. For some years we have been working for our own money, competed both in Belarusian and Russian cities and towns as well as abroad. But there is no moneyed assistance and the matter has frozen,” V.Rybakov told the correspondent of www.soyuz.by.
De facto, the team exists, but according to Viktor Grigorievich, “we have to wait for closer relations between the two states.” The team includes 34 adults and 62 youths, among them are Olympic champions.
“At international tournaments Union State team received ovations. In Magadan the match between boxers from Vitebs and St. Petersburg aroused a lot of interest,” he noted. Team practice sessions were held regularly – in Gus-Khrustalny, Kislovodsk and Vitebsk. One of Russian TV channels even had a programme which told about Federation’s activities. Moreover, tournaments were regularly organized during “Slavyanskiy Bazaar in Vitebsk”.
“There is no doubt that it is worth establishing Union sports organizations. We can’t imagine the two states separately; furthermore, sport promotes healthy life-style,” said Viktor Rybakov. He also added that friendly relations remain even outside Union Boxing Federation. A lot of Belarusians are boxing in Russia. “We are and will be on good terms, but such federations favour the harmonization of Belarus and Russia,” he is convinced.
