05.02.09
TRIP TO JAPAN

Russian Parliament deputies responsible for the development of relations with foreign countries and for the exchange of experiences with their counterparts abroad have visited Japan.

One of the participants on this visit, Aleksander Karelin, a deputy of the Russian Parliament, a three times Olympic gold medal winner, a Russian Hero, gave the following comments about the trip.
“The trip was very interesting and productive. Our delegation included several sportsmen, and therefore, besides meetings with the Japanese minister responsible for sports and with parliamentary deputies, we also had the opportunity to learn from the vast experience of the Japanese in promoting physical fitness and sports. We also had the opportunity to take part in common training sessions, which allowed us to get to know each other better. All along, our Japanese colleagues did not try to hide their interest in hosting the Olympic Games, in particular, Russian experience in representing Sochi as the capital for the white Olympic Games - 2014. Tokyo happens to be one of the applicants to host the main four years start - 2016. All this gives both countries the possibility to proceed with further discussions between experts from Japan and Russian, who would be able to exchange knowledge and experience including consultations from Russian representatives from demanding committee in International Olympic Committee”.   
Could you please give us more details related to the Japanese state policy in promoting sport and a healthier way of living?  What can we learn from this experience?    
“The Japanese have a very close relationship with sports. Above all, oriental combat disciplines, for example sumo, is part and parcel of the Japanese national culture. However, there are many other popular types of sports which are profusely promoted on specific TV channels. There are professional sport journalists who are capable of giving excellent commentaries by finding the right words to draw attention to different kinds of sports. For many years Japan has organized lotteries related to sports in order to raise more interest amongst the public. This provides additional funds towards supporting projects aimed at developing physical training activities and sports. The fact that Russia has recently revived the idea of a state sport lottery makes the Japanese experience in this field even more interesting for us. Also interesting is the support which representatives of national Japanese teams and leading sportsmen in different disciplines get through social benefits and health insurance.”
Could the worldwide current international crisis affect the development of different planned projects in the world of sports?
“In my opinion this crisis will at some point affect us because we cannot live in isolation from the economic situation around the world. However, as a representative of our state, I can say that there are no plans to discontinue any of the previously announced state programmes. This confidence is mainly based on the fact that in recent years state economical possibilities have grown and a very clear example of this is the planning preparations for the Olympic Games in Sochi. A recent inspection of the Sochi resort building site has left positive impressions on the representatives of the International Olympic Committee. A process has already started to form a group of general and official partners involved in the success of the Sochi Olympic Games. Party projects cannot be separated from state projects because they serve one purpose – to create possibilities for Russian citizens in a way that they can enjoy better prospects of self-realization and consequently a better life. Only by uniting our efforts will it be possible to achieve the desirable results. I hope that despite the present economical crisis, all the support offered to representatives of national teams, trainers and the success of sport programmes will remain unaffected.”
What needs to be done to convince Russians to lead a healthier life? What are the most effective ways, in your opinion?
“A healthy way of life does not only consist of practising sports or physical training. It also consists of looking after one’s health by keeping away from all things that can harm it in any way. As we say, a healthy spirit can be found in a healthy body. A good sense of hygiene, a balanced diet and regular exercise all help to achieve this. The sophisticated and modern equipment found in most sports clubs and gymnasiums offers a vast variety of training activities from which everyone can easily benefit. I strongly believe that over all we are a healthy nation. Looking around us, in parks and public places we very frequently come across people jogging, walking and doing gymnastics. This is their own personal way of keeping healthy. In the last five or six years, organized sports during New Year Holidays have been developed and strongly promoted. Different sports activities are also being encouraged with the assistance that the authorities are giving to private individuals who would like to use smaller public areas close to their homes for such activities. In a way, this also generates private business whilst offering a good service to the people by supporting them in leading a healthier lifestyle. This of course promotes a better and more elegant life style where people also have a bigger possibility in choosing the sport which appeals to them most. In today’s modern world it is trendy to be physically fit. In turn, this helps the individual to keep up with the fast pace that modern life requires. At the moment, in Russia, it is still difficult to choose between promotion of strong will, sacrifice, discipline and achieving good sport results or forming opinions on false ideas promoted in the media.
The first choice is without doubt the more sensible one and also the one which brings about the excellent achievements which some of our professional sportsmen have managed to make. Russia is very proud of these people because through the years they have written the name of our country in gold letters in the history of International Olympic Sports.

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