An empty armchair and a plate reading "Leonid Tyagachev, president of the Olympic Committee of Russia." Apart from Tyagachev, there are six more candidates to the office of Russia's Olympic Committee's now.
Photo: Alexey Kudenko
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Tyagachev to Face Fierce Competition
Monday was the last day to register candidates to president’s office of Russia’s Olympic Committee. Of seven candidates, only Leonid Tyagachev, Vladimir Lisin and Irina Rodnina may count on taking over the office in time of elections slated for December 22.
The two-candidate list to the president’s office of Russia’s Olympic Committee was widened by five more persons yesterday, November 21, 2005. Russia’s legendary figure skater Irina Rodnina, who heads the Sports Russia Voluntary Association today, Valentin Balakhnichev, president of All-Russia’s Track-and-Field Athletics Federation, Valery Kuzin, first vice president at the Olympic Committee, Alexander Popov, first vice president of All-Russia’s Swimming Federation, and Olympic Committee Vice President Viktor Khotochkin registered in addition to defending president of the Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev and Vladimir Lisin, who is Novolipetsk Metal Works CEO and president of the Shooters’ Association of Russia.
Of all of them however, only Rodnina, Tyagachev and Lisin are viewed as the real rivals. The purpose of Tyagachev-close Valery Kuzin and Viktor Khotochkin is evidently to help their president maintain the office. To this effect, they may withdraw their candidatures in Tyagachev’s favor, a source with Russia’s Olympic Committee said on condition of anonymity.
Irina Rodnina, Alexander Popov and Valentin Balakhnichev are friendly to Tyagachev’s key opponent Vyacheslav Fetisov, who is in charge of the Federal Physical Culture and Sports Agency of Russia. They will also act as a team, though Rodnina is the favorite.
For the third frontrunner, Vladimir Lisin, the support hasn’t rooted in the sports community of Russia. Lisin is said to have received the Kremlin’s sanction to fight for the Olympic Committee. He goes to elections not for the sake of participation, Lisin said leaving no doubts concerning the purpose of his move.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 22, 2005
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