Skip to main content

Moscow Dynamo, VTB and a happy future

Olga Mostepanova coaches a youngster a few days ago, at Moscow's historic Dynamo club

Russian bank VTB, important sponsors of Russian gymnastics, features a photo opportunity on its website today about Moscow Dynamo, highlighting the skill of its coaches, the accomplishments of its great gymnasts, and the sport's secure future as part of its massive redevelopment of the Dynamo stadium.

You will remember that back in July last year, RRG featured a story on Dynamo's great history, highlighting the Club's uncertain future as it made a move out of its traditional home to make way for the massive VTB Park development which will house multiple sporting facilities as part of efforts to build social and economic infrastructure.  The VTB Arena is expected to be the focus venue for the 2018 Football World Cup, so you will become familiar with this facility then, if not before!  Dynamo Gymnastics' future was in some doubt at that time as no promises could be made as to the rehousing of the club in the new facilities once they reopen in 2016.  

I am glad to report that VTB is keen now to emphasise that gymnastics is definitely part of the plan and we have been treated to a great photo shoot and interviews with some of Dynamo's leading gymnasts and coaches, in particular the legendary Olga Mostepanova, and Russian national team captain Emin Garibov.

Russian team captain, Emin Garibov, works hard with some of the young gymnasts at his club, who will become Dynamo's champions of the future

Olga Mostepanova, who scored a perfect 40 points out of 40 in the all around at Oloumoc in 1984, works every day with her young gymnasts at Dynamo.  Now a mother of five children, she said, 'Each child is different and benefits from a different approach'.

Emin Garibov, who competed at the 2012 Olympics and has won gold medals at European Championships and last year's Universiade, remembers tough but ultimately fulfilling times at Dynamo. 'My parents brought me here.  I often didn't want to join in, and would cry.  But then the results came. Nothing quite compares with the feeling of victory, and that's why I work.  I don't cry on the medal podium though; I am not that sentimental.'

Other sports benefitting from VTB's investment will include football, hockey, fencing, basketball and various types of martial arts.  VTB hopes that the great new facilities (due to reopen in 2016) will bring forward many young champions in both these sports and in gymnastics.  In the meantime, Dynamo's coaches and gymnasts continue to make the best of their temporary home at the Olympiski stadium.

More reading

Moscow Dynamo: Past, Present and Future?  http://www.rewritingrussiangymnastics.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Dynamo#!http://rewritingrussiangymnastics.blogspot.com/2013/07/moscow-dynamo.html

VTB Arena: social component

http://en.vtb-arena.com/project-and-society/sport


From small to large: VTB's original story and photo gallery

http://vtbrussia.ru/sport/vtbarena/ot-mala-do-velika/

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Who really won the WAG All Around?

You will find a link to the FIG's newly published book of results at the Olympic Games here .  This year, they have broken down the judge's execution scores so you can see exactly how each judge evaluated the gymnasts' performances.  It makes for interesting reading - if only I had more time to analyse each judge's marking.  A skim reading already highlights multiple inconsistencies in individual judges' marks and makes you wonder why they bother with the jury at all. I have taken the time to look at the reference judges' scores for the top four in the women's all around.  The FIG explains here what their role is, and how they are selected.  I even used my calculator, which is a risky thing in my hands.  My, how I wish we could have seen a similar document for the Tokyo World Championships. I wonder if anyone can explain how, if the FIG's Code of Points is so objective and fair, it is possible to come up with two different results using two differ...

Simone and the others - results and reflections

In the end, it was as predicted : Simone and the others, with Simone's teammate, Alexandra Raisman, providing the back up.  I do not need to point out that, by definition, the Americans are scoring significantly higher marks than the rest of the field.  Congratulations to them! Aliya Mustafina finished in third place.  The 2012 bronze medalist led the competition after vault and uneven bars, but had a very nervous outing on beam that might have taken a less experienced gymnast out of the medals.  A bravura performance on floor brought Aliya back though to confirm her third place all around.  From her senior debut in 2010 to today, Mustafina has continuously set high standards of grace.    It is the first time since 2000 that a gymnast (Amanar) has medalled in the all around at two consecutive Olympics, and  if Aliya can medal on Saturday's uneven bars final, she will once again be Russia's biggest medal winner of the women's gymnastics.  Russ...

Aliya Mustafina - 'each medal is very special'

'I'm very happy that everything turned out well today  ... Each medal is very special.  The UK team made mistakes, so there was a wide margin [of victory]... But naturally, [what I did] is not enough for the Olympics.  I prepared well for beam and bars but I am not ready for floor, I stepped up to help the team. ... To be honest, I did not look at the scores [when asked how the team reacted to the 6.5 gap before the final apparatus].  Gelya (Melnikova) is a good girl, she did everything and did not falter ... Seda fell on quite a complex element.  There is more work to do, but everything else went well.' [About a protest taken by the coaches on her beam score]. 'I am used to my protests being rejected, everything is normal!' Via vk.com I n other news , the UEG has confirmed that Spiridonova will replace Melnikova in tomorrow's bars final. No reason is given, but it is generally considered that Dasha has a better chance of gold.  This decision also means tha...

RRG Archive - scroll by date, from 2024 to 2010

Show more