Medvedev meets Russian National football team
President Medvedev once again congratulated the Russian National football team on winning a bronze medal at the Euro 2008 championships. He met with them Wednesday afternoon at a presidential retreat outside Moscow. A Russian team in the semi-finals of the European football championship is something not seen in 20 years.
2 July 2008
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29173&cid=52&p=02.07.2008 (in English)
Marat Safin enters Wimbledon semi-finals
Marat Safin (1980- ), Russian tennis star
Marat Safin advanced to the Wimbledon semi-final for the first time in his tennis career. On Wednesday, he beat Feliciano Lopez from Spain. He will play the World’s number-one player and five-time winner of Wimbledon, Roger Federer, from Switzerland. Marat Safin’s best achievement at Wimbledon was reaching the quarter-finals in 2001.
3 July 2008
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29182&cid=52&p=03.07.2008 (in English)
The children’s Olympic Games have started in the Russian republic of Yakutia
The Children of Asia International Games, considered by many an unofficial youth Olympics, started in the Russian republic of Yakutia. The slogan of the event is “From friendship in sports to world peace”. Competitions in 18 events, including football, artistic gymnastics, and track and field events will be held in the cities of Mirny, Neryungri, and Yakutsk. Over 2,000 young sportsmen from 18 countries are taking part in the competitions. Teams from Iran, Laos, Indonesia, Yemen, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan are attending the games for the first time.
3 July 2008
http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29198&cid=52&p=03.07.2008 (in English)
Voice of Russia World Service
UEFA talks of Polish and Ukrainian problems preparing for Euro 2012
Michel Platini, the president of European soccer’s governing body, said Thursday that the Ukraine and Poland have problems in preparations for hosting Euro 2012. Mr Platini was wrapping up a two day visit to Poland and the Ukraine with a UEFA delegation to inspect the countries’ progress with the construction of stadiums, transport, and other infrastructure for the major European soccer event. Poland and the Ukraine were chosen to co-host the tournament in 2007, but, in January UEFA expressed its dissatisfaction with the start the countries had made getting ready for the event.
At a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, Mr Platini said the responsibility lay both with the host countries and UEFA, but, added that the current situation did not meet his expectations. Ms Timoshenko assured the UEFA president that yhe Ukraine would do everything possible to make Euro 2012 a true holiday for the world of soccer. Mr Platini said Wednesday that the results of the meetings and inspections in Poland and the Ukraine would go into a report to be discussed at a UEFA meeting in the fall.
“A report will then be given to the UEFA Executive Committee in order that they can fully review the situation in the two countries at our next meeting on 25 and 26 September in Bordeaux”, Mr Platini said. Before the Euro 2008 final last weekend, he denied that there were plans to move the tournament. Media reports have suggested Scotland was eager to host the event in case Poland and the Ukraine drop out, whilst Italy and Spain have also been mentioned as possible replacements.
3 July 2008
http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080703/112926914.html (in English)
Editor’s Note:
A modest suggestion from Tyotya Vara… Move the championship to Moscow, where there IS enough infrastructure to support a proper tourney, and a proper government, not the Keystone Cops lot in Kiev. It would be done right proper and smartly, no excuses given, thank you very much! Vivat Rossiya!
Russian-Australian Tszyu says fight with movie star Jackie Chan cancelled
Kostya Tszyu (1969- ), famous Russian-Australian welterweight boxing champion, the “Thunder from Down Under”
Russian boxer Kostya Tszyu said Thursday he would go to the Beijing Olympics only to support his boxing compatriots as his exhibition fight with Chinese actor-director and martial artist Jackie Chan had been cancelled. In April, Tatiana Trubnikova, one of the exhibition fight organisers, said Chan liked the idea of the demonstration fight and gave his preliminary permission, but, approval was needed from the Chinese Olympic Committee, as Chan is China’s official face for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. “There will be no fight with Jackie Chan”, said Tszyu, the undisputed junior welterweight world champion. “At first, the Chinese authorities gave their permission, but, then, after considering all the details, decided that the Olympic ambassador should not be punched in the face”. The 54-year-old Hollywood star has been given the honoured privilege of singing the Chinese national anthem at the Olympic opening ceremony on 8 August.
3 July 2008
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080703/112928045.html (in English)
Russian pair through to mixed doubles semifinal at Wimbledon
Maria Kirilenko (1987- ), Russian tennis star
Russian pair Maria Kirilenko and Igor Andreev won their mixed double match at Wimbledon to book a place in the semi-finals and a chance to take on the number one seeds. The two Russians beat third seeds Pavel Vizner and Kveta Peschke from the Czech Republic in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday in a one-sided match that the Russians never really looked like losing. They will hope to enjoy more success than their compatriot, Elena Dementieva who lost her semi-final match against Venus Williams Thursday, when they meet the top-seeds, American Mike Bryan and Katarina Srebotnik from Slovenia.
4 July 2008
http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080704/112952758.html (in English)
WBA decides on Valuev vs Ruiz heavyweight title bout
Nikolai Valuev (1973- ), heavyweight boxing champion, 2.13 metres (7 feet) tall, 147 kilos (324 pounds) in weight. Shall you escort me home, sir? I’ll warrant I’ll have NO troubles with Kolya at my side!
The World Boxing Association approved a heavyweight title fight between former champions Nikolai Valuev of Russia and John Ruiz as current titleholder Ruslan Chagaev of Uzbekistan is unable to defend it due to health problems. Boris Dimitrov, a manager of the “The Beast from the East” Valuev (48-1, 34 KO), said the bout had been tentatively set for 30 August. “The final decision on the date and place of the bout will be made in the next few days”, he said. “The bout will be held either in Germany or the United States”.
Valuev, 34, became the first Russian world heavyweight champion in December 2005 when he defeated John “the Quietman” Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KO). In April 2007, he lost his title to Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev from Uzbekistan. Since then, Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KO) held one title defence bout and was named recently as “champion in recess” after he suffered ankle injury while sparring last week and had to undergo a surgery on his left torn Achilles tendon. Chagaev’s health problems have caused the postponement of two mandatory challenges with Valuev and on Thursday the WBA administration decided to sanction the bout with the Russian’s closest contender, the Puerto Rican-American Ruiz.
4 July 2008
http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080704/113120162.html (in English)
Federer dispatches Safin in straight sets at Wimbledon semis
Roger Federer (1986- ), Swiss tennis champion, ranked World Number 1 since 2 February 2004
Five-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer brushed aside Russia’s Marat Safin in a clinical 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 victory in the semi-finals, to set up his sixth-straight Wimbledon final appearance. The Russian had reached the last four for the first time after an impressive career comeback, following early round exits at a string of recent tournaments, and a battle against injuries. However, the Swiss world number-one stamped his authority from the outset, winning his first service game to love and breaking Safin’s serve in the second game.
Safin served powerfully to take the second set to a tie-break, but, lost after a series of unforced errors. Despite some impressive shots from Safin in the third set, the Russian grew visibly frustrated at his inability to break Federer’s serve, and smashed his racket just before the Swiss took a 5-4 lead. Federer has now extended his record for consecutive grass court victories to 65, and will be seeking a 56th career title. Federer is almost certain to meet Spain’s Rafael Nadal for a third consecutive Wimbledon final showdown between the world’s top two players. Nadal’s opponent in the second semi-final, Germany’s Rainer Schuttler, is ranked 94th in the world.
4 July 2008
http://en.rian.ru/world/20080704/113145362.html (in English)
RIA-Novosti
