Alexander Katushev: "The Russsian Olympians Foundation" has actually already started to support the reserve of the Russian sports - to support the athletes who are going to win medals in Sochi-2014 and Rio-2016

Yesterday, on 16 December, in "Krokus-expo" the first day of the exhibution "Sochi and Kazan - the relay of the Russian sports" was held. At the plenary meeting one of the speakers on the topic "Cooperation of the sports and business" was the excecutive director of the "Russian Olympians Foundation" Alexander Katushev. The special correspondent of the Agency of sport information "All Sport" reports on the second and final part of Alexander Katushev's presentation, devoted specifically to the work of "The Russian Olympians Foundation".

"To illustrate the contribution of "The Russian Olympians Foundation" to the development of sports on our country, I'd mention such a figure, - Alexander Katushev said. - At the board meeting of the Ministry of sport, physical culture and youth politics on 16 December, the total sum of money spent on the preparation of the Russian Olympic team for the Olympics in Vancouver was announced. This was 0,5 billion rubles and 13 mln dollars. "The Russian Olympians Foundation" has spent almost the same amount of money, even slightly more. I can with full responsibility declare that from the financial side we have done everything for our athletes, so they would be able to get ready for the Olympics without thinking of anything else other than trainings. I can just hope that the athletes wouldn't let us down".

"Another area of the Foundation's activities - support of the veterans of sport, - Alexander Katushev underlined. - All the silver and bronze medalists of the past Olympic Games already on the first day after they reach the retirement age or are registered as the disabled persons, start getting our grants. I'd underline, the grants are lifelong. Moreover, all the taxes are paid by the Foundation. Unfortunately, the taxes are a separate topic for the non-commercial charity organisations. The secretary of state of the Ministry of sports Natalia Parshikova told us that the appropriate bill had already been prepared and in the nearest future it would be introduced in the State Duma. I'd like to believe that it would be approved the sooner the better".

Alexander Katushev also noted that in 2009 "The Russian Olympians Foundation" introduced the new area - the support of children-youth sport. "Finally, the third are - is the kids sport. In 2009 was introduced our pilot project of support of the Olympic reserve schools in 7 different federal regions. The criteria to become the grant recepients were the results of the students, means spent on taking part in competitions and training camps, renting of the training facilities, buying the equipment. Many schools already this year showed high results in the international competitions - up to the Wotld Championships$ some schools has been declared by the federations the basic ones for bringing up top class athletes. Here I can mention the Olympic reserve school for water kind of sports in Penza or figure skating school in Saint Petersburg. The amount of the grants were from 50 to 500 percent of the schools' annual budget", Alexander Katushev underlined.

"And finally, another very important point, - Alexander Katushev said. - We believe that "The Russian Olympians Foundation" has already started to support the reserve of the Russian sports - to support the athletes who are going to win medals in Sochi-2014 and Rio-2016. Why? Because even now up to 50 percent of our grants resepients in winter sports are juniors, in summer sports - up to 40 percent. I think, this tells everything".