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Hello, Gia Saralidze is in the studio of VK.
And the main sporting and not only sporting event is the 30th Olympic Games in London.
It makes us betray our favorite kind of sport, football,
and today we will speak about events in the arenas of the Olympics.
For 6 days the only gold medals taken by the Russian Olympic team
were three gold medals gained by representatives of the Caucasus in judo.
I should say that these medals were the first gold medals in the new history of Russia in this kind of sport.
In wrestling we have many victories, but judo failed to be conquered.
We had bronze and silver medals, but had no gold ones.
And now we have won three gold medals.
First of all, it should be emphasized that all three gold medals were won by representatives of the Caucasus.
Actually, the Caucasus guys became pioneers,
we hope other athletes from our team will follow their example
and Russia will gain gold medals in other kinds of sport as well, not only combat sports.
However, we expect victories in wrestling and boxing.
Representatives of the Caucasus play a big role in these disciplines.
Speaking about these Olympic Games and Russia’s performances, I have an ambiguous feeling.
Me, my sports journalist colleagues and experts are happy with the victories, moreover, in combat sports.
For example, the victory by Tagir Khazbulayev in front of the President.
People often say that politics and sport should be separated, but big sport will always stay big politics.
Remember diplomatic relations history,
ping-pong diplomacy when representatives of the US at first came to China to play ping-pong,
and only then started to develop cooperation.
Sport will always be big politics.
Tagir won the gold medal in front of the Russian President, who sat near the UK prime minister.
Of course it is politics, even if we don’t like it.
These guys are a part of Russian politics and Russia’s image.
They gain medals through hard training, desire, strong will and so on.
They do a great deal for Russia’s image.
At the same time, in Russia we often hear statements that the Caucasus should be separated,
that some defensive screen should be constructed against these people because they are too numerous,
too annoying, and so on.
You know we all are citizens of Russia and laws are equal for everyone.
In the Olympic Games all the Caucasian guys are called Russians.
And it is right!
They are citizens of Russia, they fight for Russia.
They do their best for the country’s anthem to be played, for the Russian flag to be raised,
and it is right to call them Russians.
But I would like after their return from London for them not to appear to be second-class people
or people whose relatives, friends and fellow-countrymen are undesirable in some regions.
There is the law.
If somebody violates the law, this person should be punished.
If somebody violates migration laws, the person should be punished according to the laws.
But all citizens of one country should live under the same laws.
Otherwise we are not a country, if we have first-class people and second-class people.
Why are all the athletes at the Olympic Games equal in front of sporting laws and rules?
I think these things are obvious, and it is odd to speak about them, but unfortunately we have to.
I am sure that the Caucasian guys who often fight for St. Petersburg clubs and other regions of the country
will make the Russian flag be raised.
But I wish that when the Olympics ends all those who are happy with these victories today
do not forget that people from the Caucasus are hard-working, high-spirited, with good and proper traditions,
and not criminals or people who behave provocatively on the streets.
Of course some people behave like that, but they don’t represent the Caucasus peoples.
These Olympics emphasize one more time that people from the Caucasus
are an integral part of a big powerful country.
And they represent the country at the Olympic Games.
I don’t want to divide people into ethnic groups.
I think it is wrong.
But unfortunately I have to, due to events.
I hope I won’t return to this topic.
In the next part of our program we will speak about football
and the third round of the Russian Premier League.