Mintimer Shaimiev participated in celebrations in honor of Dinamo-Tattransgas team

Celebrations in honor of the volleyball team Dinamo-Tattransgas was held on June 21 at “Pyramid” Entertainment Complex. The event was dedicated to the victory of Kazan sportsmen in the final of Russian championship. Tatarstan President Mintimer Shaimiev took part in the celebration.

Mintimer Shaimiev made a speech to the guests and expressed his admiration for the team’s victories and congratulated them. He emphasized that history of volleyball in our country starts not in Moscow or St. Petersburg, but in Kazan and Nizhniy Novgorod, where the new game obtained mass scale.

The head of the republic also noted that Tatarstan citizens are spoilt to a certain extent by victories of Tatarstan teams in Russian and European championships. At the same time he reminded sport supporters that participation in the final is a great success, that’s why they shouldn’t be distressed with the silver medal of Ak Bars hockey team.

Mintimer Shaimiev pointed out significant contribution of the team’s chief trainer, Viktor Sidelnikov to the victory of Dinamo-Tattransgas. He considers rapid advancement of the team to the super-league to be ‘not a speed, but acceleration’. He wished to the sportsmen to preserve this dynamics, win the title of champions in 2008 and receive prestigious European trophies. RT President informed that the head of JSC Gazprom, Alexey Miller wishes to join financing of the next season of Dinamo-Tattransgas. ‘Brand of Gazprom will stand for you,’ Mintimer Shaimiev declared.

The first Vice-President of All-Russian Volleyball Federation, Stanislav Shevchenko and honorable president of this organization also participated in this event. Stanislav Shevchenko handed over the golden medal of Russian championship to the applause of the audience.

After celebration Mintimer Shaimiev gave an interview for TV channel Sport.

The head of the republic pointed out, that the victories of Tatarstan teams in club competitions and championships show that in Tatarstan we pay a lot of attention to the sport. According to him, there is only one reason of this: “There is no more attractive idea for the joining of the youth and nation than sport”.

“Sport joins everything and everybody. During the football championship all the world stuck to TV screens, everybody supported. What else can join all people of the planet as sport?” he pointed out, adding that the successes of native teams also raise the mood of Tatarstan citizens, which educate the feeling of patriotism.

Mintimer Shaimiev informed the journalists that together with the strengthening of the training base for professional clubs, Republic creates “sport vertical”, which allows involving the citizens in sport since the childhood. “It will give results very soon, - RT President is sure. - We have wonderful hockey, basketball, and volleyball “verticals”. We hire very good trainers to work with small children”.

At the end of his speech the head of the Republic underlined that last years we can observe the improving of Russian economy, which influences all the areas of the life. According to him, such situation should be followed by sport achievements of Russian citizens.