News Release
21.01.2010
MW. The beginning of this year was distinguished by a number of sports victories and achievements of employees of law enforcement bodies.
We should mention both the first gold medal of our picked team in the Olympic games in Vancouver and the sensational performance of the Hockey club of the Ministry of Interior in this season.
So what is behind these sports victories of the Russian militia officers? We are discussing this with our visitor, the Minister of Interior of the Russian Federation Rashid Nurgaliev.
- Rashid Gumarovich, employees of the law enforcement bodies have been continually mentioned for reasons quite unusual for them recently: militia officers win ant take first places in various contests, including international contests, which literally produces sensations. What is the secret of such a sudden displacement of vectors in departmental and Russian sports?
Minister. There is no secret. The excellent results of the militia sportsmen is a result of the long-term work aimed at the physical training and development of sports at the Ministry of Interior.
We pay this aspect of our activity our closest attention. After all, employees of the law enforcement bodies and military men of internal troops are simply obliged to be in good physical conditions due to their service duties.
For example, hand-to-hand combat techniques have at all times been obligatory in the office training at the Ministry of Interior of Russia.
Our team have been in leading places for years, and not only in Russia. For instance, the first Europe judo team championship was held in Moscow for employees of the army and police bodies. In total 15 teams of law enforcement departments of Russia and from abroad took part in the contests. Our Ministry was represented by three picked team. After tough struggle two of them, those of the Ministry of Interior of Russia and the internal troops, won the first two places.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, speaking of the applied side of sports at the Ministry of Interior: as far as I know, Russian militia officers regularly achieve the highest results at international competitions among policemen. Last year was one of the most successful in this respect...
Minister. Indeed, last year was one of the years of plenty medals for our sportsmen.
For instance, in the 13th World games for policemen and firemen which took place in Canada in 2009, members of the pocked team of the Ministry of Interior of Russia won 107 medals in 10 kinds of sports.
Which really put the contenders off their feet was when two our veteran picked teams won the gold medals simultaneously in the hockey tournament in the age categories. The Russian militia officers thus confirmed their superiority in decisive matches on ice for the third time running.
Besides, our sportsmen had a good performance in the 63rd International police motor rally in Poland, in the European swimming championship for policemen in Spain.
MW. Beside purely police contests, representatives of the Ministry of Interior of Russia conquered other major sports peaks as well. The latest example is the Olympic Games in Vancouver...
Minister. Yes, the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver showed that our militia sportsmen are ready and principally capable of challenging world leaders.
A good example is the second lieutenant of militia skier Nikita Kryukov who not only won the first gold medal for our country, but also distanced recognized favorites including the "king of skis" Norwegian Peter Nortug.
After this victory, many a skeptical man asserted that Nikita's gold finish was a fortuity. However, in the following contest which took place a month later, at a stage of the World Cup Stockholm Nikita Kryukov repeated his Vancouver success.
By the way, Nikita was far not the only representative of the Ministry of Interior who distinguished themselves in the latest Winter Olympic Games. And I would like to thkank once again all our sportsmen for the worthy representation of the Ministry and Russia as a whole in the international sports arena.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, do the great sports achievements of the Russian militia officers prevent them from performing their daily duties?
Minister. I would tell they help. One of missions of the Ministry of Interior is the patriotic education of citizens. The brilliant performances of militia sportsmen at most prestigious international contest make an extremely favorable contribution to the solution of this issue.
Also, our sportsmen work with youth with dedication. They offer patron and tutor assistance to children's social establishments, they work with so-called "difficult teenagers".
Besides, as you understand, major sports peaks could not be conquered without aò adequate training foundation. The Ministry of Interior of Russia was the first state department which opened doors of its sports institutions for youth free of charge.
Today, in every settlement having departmental sports buildings of the Ministry of Interior, any boy or girl can come there and enjoy sports unhampered. The number of such children grows with every day.
This means that fewer children remain in streets without supervision of adults, and the chances they step on a slippery way and violate the law are less. This is important for us.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, what other unusual sports achievements of Russian militia officers could you mention? There must be some results in the extreme sports field which is rapidly gaining popularity?
Minister. Since 1997, mountaineering has been actively propagandized at Krasnodar law university of the Ministry of Interior of Russia. Employees of the educational institution, cadets and students regularly conquer most forbidding peaks, among them Makalu, Everest, Godwin Austen.
Only a short time ago, 25 climbers guided by the head of university lieutenant general of militia Yuri Agafonov completed another successful mountain expedition devoted to the 65th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. It is notable that from among the cadets participating in the ascension four were girls.
The participants of the expedition surmounted the passages of the Main Caucasian ridge which had witnessed fierce battles against Hitler's armies for the sake of the defense and liberation of the Caucasus in 1942-1943. After that, the group ascended the eastern peak of Mount Elbrus.
It shall be noted that the ascension of the climbers was complicated by most unfavorable weather conditions: low temperature, strong wind, blizzard, and limited visibility. Nevertheless, the members of the climbing team showed their physical perfection and special proficiency, mutual aid and support which are qualities any Russian militia officer needs.
MW. Rashid Gumarovich, the last question I would ask without which our broadcast would be imperfect is the theme which has been on the tip of sportscasters tongues lately, the stunning pace of the hockey club of the Ministry of Interior on in the continental hockey league. Did the Ministry's management expect the team would fly so high this year?
Minister. The hockey club of the Ministry of Interior did create a stir this season. I think this is natural.
Over the five years of its existence the club has risen on confident feet, got stronger and declared itself a full-fledged participant of the continental hockey league.
In this year's play off series the hockey club of the Ministry of Interior shows their great potential. And I sincerely hope that the team's performance pleases the fans whose number grows with each game.
I thank the players of our team, the whole coach staff, our fans for the excellent season. I also hope that the list of future sports achievements of the club will grow.
MW. Well, I also personally wish the players of the hockey club of the Ministry of Interior as well as all sportsmen of the Ministry of Interior further achievements and persistence in making them! And this is the end of our program for today. Thank you very much, Rashid Gumarovich, for the detailed conversation. See you next week.
Program "Conversation with the Minister" at the radio station "Militia wave"
www.mvd.ru