Leonid Arch: GENERAL WITHOUT THE ARMY
Photo © Dmitry Solncev
the picture Leonid Arch
Interview with the head coach of the Russian gymnastics team (and in combination - and the president of the federation), on the eve of the April 93 World Cup I did not succeed. "There's nothing to me now to talk to you! - He cut off. - That's all vzgreyu in Birmingham, then ... "
"Thrash" did not happen. The result of the World Cup proved to be very comforting. Second and fifth place in the all-around at the men, the fifth - in women, bronze Natasha Bobrova on the floor exercise and the only gold Sergei Kharkov on the crossbar. And a whole bunch of injuries: broken leg Dina Kochetkova, hand - Kate Vandysheva. Strongly hit the crossbar on the ankle (almost certainly miss the chance to become a champion if you do not, then the second winner) Dima Karbanenko. And least of all at the moment I wanted to talk with the head coach of the gym.
A month later the Russian team was left without two stars Kharkiv Sergey and Alexey Nikolaev signed contracts with the company "TESS" by Dmitry Bilozercheva. And the answer to my question: "Will there Kharkov and Voropayev place in the team?" - A categorical "no", Arch made it clear: he went on the warpath.
However, the conflict was predicted much earlier. After the Olympic Games in Barcelona, when Arch officially announced that he was going to go and work in any other country, eight of the twelve Olympic champions former United team signed a one-year contract with the firm "TESS". A little later to the same youth team coach left the Olympic champion Nikolai Andrianov and female - Alexander Alexandrov. But Arch so nowhere and left.
From an interview Sept. 20, 1992.
- Why do you need this? Indeed, almost all the team if not already parted, then dispersed for. Start all over again? Do not you ate?
- Gorged. But ... sorry. Their work. Because I feel that all my previous work will go down the drain. And then to restore the previous state will be a generation of coaches. Destroyed something instantly.
- Are not you afraid that, once again starting to work with the team, run out of like-minded people?
- I do they will always be. Because, inviting someone to the team, I never took away from his coach. Moreover, I have always - his assistant. Now, if I pick up students passed them by coach to coach on your own, it would have long since tired of all ...
Tired, as it turned out; more. The same Sergei Kharkov was immensely happy ctav in Birmingham world champion after eight operations carried during his time in the gym. But the first thing then said, rising from the platform to the podium to the gym, strictly speaking, the relationship had "finally buy an apartment. I recently got married and, therefore, should be responsible for the family and, of course, provide it. "
But when he returned to Moscow, Kharkov not received any npichitayuschuyusya him the prize, or even a meager salary Olimpiyskogokomiteta - since last year. Opting for "TESS", the first issue of the Russian gymnastics team was automatically abroad.
From an interview with Arkaevym June 20, 1993.
- All the guys knew about my attitude towards the company as Bilozercheva before going to sign him. So they blame nobody. Want to do business - please. But not me.
- They will not get in the team, even if they become champions of Russia?
- I simply will not allow for the championship.
- Based on what?
- On the basis of what they have betrayed the interests of the Russian gymnastics. Athletes in this class - it is capital that is owned by the federation. Now I'm going to enter into contracts with each athlete before the end of the Olympic quadrennium. And, just signed a contract, the gymnast will have the right to take part in competitions and tournaments gymnastics calendar. Naturally, the contract will be stipulated and liabilities Federation - scholarship form training camp ...
- And now your athletes get scholarships?
- I got paid for the entire first quarter, only a month ago. I think the guys too.
- And how many received the first issue of the national team?
- Probably as much as I, - twenty thousand rubles a month.
- You as I know, only recently returned from Italy, where they worked at the invitation of the Italian Federation.
- Worked. And such invitations I have set.
- Then why do not you want to provide an opportunity normally earn at least to those who deserve it results?
- Why do not you want to? We have a commercial tournament, which federation earns a lot of money. And I paid gymnasts even when the law we had to hand over all the currency in the sports committee. Crying now. But I can not give money only to the elite, and the other to keep from hand to mouth. We only paid -only with base "Round Lake", which must have been about 20 million rubles, but in fact there is a year-round gathering. Again I have the most interest to coaches. Although much easier to divide the earnings among a relatively small number of people, as it does Bilozerchev. And no work for him or anyone else, I do not want to.
- And at the same time working on? Although you leave athletes, coaches - and there is no guarantee that those whom you prepare for Atlanta, earning their names, do not go after him.
- I yet did nothing. And now begin to fight against the fact that the Russian athletes without the permission of the Federation participated in any performances abroad. Including the demonstration.
- Why, then, all other federations - Ukrainian, Uzbek - only welcome the fact that their athletes train and live at the expense of the company Bilozercheva, but in favor of their country and in addition pay a certain percentage of the federations with the money earned on the demonstration and commercial tournaments?
- Because none of these federations have never earned money on their own. Gymnasts earned the former Soviet Union. Now - Russia. Because these demonstrations - a huge complex event: acrobatics and gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. Presentation at least two hours. And now I have disrupted a number of speeches - in England, Belgium, Spain. For one reason: the stars go. No names - there is no demand, no matter how technical skills possessed neither the athletes themselves. At the time, our federation earned a demonstration of up to 600 thousand dollars a year. And rather than to continue to earn that money, I have to settle for a percentage? It's just a robbery!
- So I'm trying to understand what are the ways to deal with it.
- First of all, of course, pay good money.
- That, as we have seen, yet you can not do that.
- I, when he agreed to stay in the team until the next Games, aware that at first it will be enough miserable existence. But, believe me, everything else has changed.
1993
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