Vladimir Slavsky President of the Russian Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Federation Date of Birth: . Country: Russia

1. Slippery Slope
2. Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined in Decline
3. Limited Opportunities, High Expectations
4. A glimmer of Hope
5. Promised Improvements
6. Challenges to Overcome

Serious Concerns Raised About Russian Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Teams' Turin Preparation

Slippery Slope

The Vice President of the International Olympic Committee, Vitaly Smirnov, has expressed grave concerns regarding the Russian ski jumping and Nordic combined teams' readiness for the upcoming Turin Olympics. In a meeting of the Russian Olympic Committee's executive board, Smirnov noted the decline in Russia's performance in these disciplines, from third place in Nagano to fifth in Salt Lake City.

Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined in Decline

Vladimir Slavsky, President of the Russian Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Federation, provided an in-depth analysis of the situation. He stressed that ski jumping has become increasingly popular in Europe, with up to 70,000 spectators attending "flying" ski jumper competitions. However, in Russia, the sport is sadly neglected.

Slavsky lamented the lack of modern infrastructure for ski jumping and Nordic combined in Russia. While in the past, Russian athletes like Garri Napalkov had enjoyed immense popularity, today there are no certified artificial turf ski jumps in the country.

Limited Opportunities, High Expectations

To achieve success in ski jumping, athletes require extensive training sessions involving hundreds of jumps. This is impossible without modern facilities. The current lack of opportunities in Russia hinders the athletes' ability to refine their technique and gain the necessary experience.

Slavsky acknowledged that the federation has received minimal funding, leaving them in a difficult financial situation. While the coaching school has maintained a high standard, the lack of resources hampers their ability to prepare the athletes adequately.

A glimmer of Hope

Despite the challenges, Slavsky remains optimistic. He believes that Russia's loss of dominance in other winter sports could motivate the authorities to invest more attention in ski jumping and Nordic combined.

Slavsky also expressed hope for a strong showing by the ski jumpers in Turin, especially with the support of promising young athletes like Dima Vasiliev. However, he emphasized the need for continued support and funding.

Promised Improvements

Slavsky revealed that the Federal Agency for Physical Culture and Sports has pledged to provide financial assistance, and that the team is eager to prove itself.

The Moscow government has also approved plans for a modern ski jump complex in the Nagornaya Street area. This facility will include three jumps of different sizes, a ski stadium, and training facilities for young athletes.

Challenges to Overcome

Slavsky acknowledged that funding remains the primary obstacle to the construction of the Moscow complex and other planned upgrades to ski jumping infrastructure in various regions.

He urged Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov to prioritize this project, as it would significantly advance the development of ski jumping and Nordic combined in Russia.

Slavsky also mentioned plans for a similar complex in Khanty-Mansiysk, as well as the ongoing reconstruction of facilities in Mezhdurechensk and Nizhny Novgorod. However, these projects face significant financial challenges and may take considerable time to complete.