The rector of the Volga Region State University of Physical Education and Sports, Rafis Burganov, spoke in an interview with the editor-in-chief of Tatar-inform, Rinat Bilalov, about what secrets Tatarstan’s sports functionaries went to China to find, whether it is worth holding sports parades on Red Square, and why all athletes suffer from sanctions.
The format of the Fijtal Games and the BRICS Games implies an unconventional approach
Rafis Timerkhanovich, a huge number of sporting events are planned in our country next year, according to our data, more than 12,000. Kazan, among others, is becoming a very important venue for these events. We expect the Games of the Future in February and the BRICS Games in June. These events will utilise the infrastructure of Volga Region University. Can you tell us more about this?
We have already got used to the fact that with the appearance of the venues that were transferred to the Volga Region University of Physical Culture and Sports, the number of events held at these facilities has increased. And we have already got used to these large-scale events.
The format of the Fijital Games and the BRICS Games implies not quite the usual, non-standard approach. Our university is a universal platform for this, where any configuration is possible. What does this mean? Each of these sports facilities is adapted to a certain type of sport. At the same time, it is equipped with the latest technology. This makes it possible to adapt the university facilities to the format of international games.
And it is no coincidence that our university is involved in the Games of the Future and the BRICS Games. The Games of the Future will take place at the end of February and the beginning of March. The event will involve a residential cluster, where more than a thousand volunteers will be accommodated, as well as the building of the teaching and laboratory building.
In terms of sports, the Tennis Academy will be involved, where laser tag will be held for the first time. We have tested this area - we held events specially for the Games of the Future. We are ready, although the responsibility for such a large-scale event cannot go anywhere and we cannot be calm until the games are held.
As for the BRICS Games, the format is still moving - it is being finalised. Dozens of sports have been announced. The facilities of the Volga Region University will include the Aquatics Palace, the Gymnastics Centre, the Rowing Centre, the Tennis Academy together with the Badminton Palace, and the Burevestnik training and sports complex.
We, together with our colleagues from other countries, are trying to make it interesting for everyone. We already realise that the number of countries participating in the Games will definitely exceed the number of BRICS countries, and we are open to this. Our country has repeatedly stated this.
In anticipation of these major events, are there any problematic issues that have yet to be resolved?
The procedure of preparation for these events is quite standard. First, a document is created, according to which either the Russian government or the Tatarstan government determines the rules, quantitative and qualitative parameters. After that, an organising committee is created, which considers these nuances, then a corresponding plan of events is drawn up, where we try to take into account all these subtleties and details. The action plans for both competitions have already been adopted, and we are all working on their implementation.
Apart from yours, what other venues will be involved?
The Central Stadium will be used for the BRICS Games. And by the time of these competitions, the facility will be repaired, it will be brought to a normal condition, which I am very happy about.
We must take into account that the competitions will be watched by tens of millions of people. Therefore, everything must be at a decent level.
"It's important to us that the Chinese teach us the wisdom of sports medicine."
Volga Region University is traditionally active in international cooperation. Tell us about your recent trip to China. What are your plans with your Chinese partners?
As for international cooperation in the field of university sports, this was largely predetermined by the decision of the FISU Bureau - our university was chosen as the international educational center of FISU. Speaking about our cooperation with China, this was also predetermined from the very beginning, since we are a child of the Universiade. The 2013 Universiade was preceded by the Chinese Universiade. We have adopted a lot of Shenzhen experience. We do not hide this and are very grateful to our Chinese colleagues.
Today, in China, just like in Russia, there are 14 sports universities. The Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Oleg Matytsin assigned Chinese universities to Russian ones, having previously discussed this with his Chinese colleague. For example, Beijing University went to our central GCOLIFK, the central university in Shanghai went to Lesgaft University, and we, which we are very happy about, got to Chengdu University, which hosted the recent World Universiade. This is a very good sports school. They train not only coaches, but also doctors in seven specialties, including sports. And I think that in this regard we are very lucky.
Why?
The Volga Region University has a research institute, which has a very large medical and sanitary department.
We are now trying to develop medical and biomedical areas very deeply, genetics, heredity, sleep, nutrition, biomechanics... We are looking for where the reserves of the human body still lie. And we want colleagues who are deeply immersed in this to work with us.
Fortunately, at Chengdu University these areas are very well developed, and we have found a common language. For them, our specialists and our areas in gymnastics, swimming, hockey, football and a number of other areas are very much in demand. And it is very important for us that they teach us the wisdom of sports medicine, both classical and Chinese. They are ready to work with us. Three of their clinics with hospitals use all these methods.
Of course, we will create joint laboratories. We already have such laboratories with a number of Russian and foreign universities.
In general, Tatarstan is a very sporting republic, there are no dilettantes here, and it is necessary to constantly be, as they say today, in the trend. Therefore, we will adopt all the best experience. In this regard, we have a very serious support of Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of Tatarstan. He is not only an experienced businessman, but also an Honoured Master of Sports of Russia, and sports is very close and understandable to him.
My opinion is that we should adopt the experience of those with whom we used to work, where the educational and training systems are similar to ours. These are Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Serbia.
And our colleagues, both Russian and foreign, also want to work with us.
In the 24th year, Russia is due to host the Russian-Chinese Youth Winter Games, and in the 25th year - the Summer Games. How important is this for the development of sport and, in general, for the development of co-operation with this country? And will students of our university participate in these Games?
Of course, they will. These will be the national teams of the youth teams of the two countries - strong athletes. The events will be held at the highest level. It is important for both us and the Chinese side to learn experience in sports where we are strong. We are interested in this. Let there be worthy sparring partners.
We know very well that when the Chinese set themselves a task, they fulfil it very seriously and qualitatively, and achieve results very quickly.
In Soviet times, a coach was more than mum and dad
This year your university celebrates its 50th anniversary. What achievements do you come to this date with?
50 years ago, a branch of the Volgograd Institute of Physical Education was opened in the Kirovsky district of Kazan. The first intake was about two hundred students - that's how the university started its way, which began to train sports coaches.
In parallel with it, the Physical Education Department of Kazan Pedagogical Institute, which prepared physical education teachers, was doing very well. We remember very well how they competed with each other at that time.
But even then it was necessary to think about how they should interact in the future. In Soviet times, a coach was greater than mom and dad in terms of authority and the time he spent with the child. The physical education teacher is the same, during the day - a lesson, in the evening - a section, various competitions for which he prepared. Coaches were not everywhere. Let's say in the villages these two specialties were pedagogical.
Over time, Naberezhnye Chelny, KAMAZ, began to develop here, and the party and the Government then considered it necessary to transfer some of the universities to Naberezhnye Chelny. Thus, our purely sports university moved to the automobile capital.
In parallel with this, our federal university became larger, and the pedagogical institute became part of it. At the same time, the physical education department at the pedagogical institute was closed. And we opened it at our university. Unfortunately, due to inconsistency in the actions of universities, we suffered staff losses.
After the 13th Universiade with the transfer of 300 thousand square meters. meters of space, both the coaching specialty and the pedagogical specialty of a physical education teacher were merged in one university. The coach, among other things, became a trainer-teacher according to the new professional standard. In our opinion, this is very correct. Consolidation took place in new areas, new specialties were added.
The newest history de facto dates back to 2013, but the whole foundation, of course, was laid in 1974. Yes, these were not luxurious sports and educational facilities, but we are very grateful to our veterans for laying a strong foundation. And the leadership of the republic did not scatter these objects separately among subordinate institutions, but concentrated everything in one place. This allowed, firstly, to use them throughout the country. And secondly, they can host any multi-sport, and not only, events.
Every year, a huge number of sectoral and departmental spartakiades are held. They cannot be held on any separate site. We need a large area managed from one centre, where we could change the configuration for any event in a very mobile way.
For our 50th anniversary we want to see both our veterans and our alumni.
We will devote the whole year to this date, we will hold a large number of scientific and practical conferences, spartakiades, various sporting events. Almost everything that is planned for this year will be held under the aegis of the 50th anniversary of our university.
At all events we will tell about the history of the university and do career guidance work.
"We're not chasing more seats."
How many students are studying at the university today?
Today the number of students has already exceeded four thousand. We recruit not 200 but 1,200 students a year. We are not chasing an increase in the number of places, we are trying to work on quality.
Thank you to everyone who supports us. Excellent conditions are created, because everything new should be, first of all, in the university where specialists are trained.
In the field of tourism we have completed the construction of a large centre for the development of human resources potential of the tourism industry. The retraining centre is equipped with the latest technologies and is waiting for its opening.
Colleagues from Bashkortostan, Samara region, Tatarstan have passed six modules. Just a few days ago, the second stream of trainees started training. Teams from the Kaluga and Kursk regions and the Republic of Dagestan came to Kazan.
As experts, we invite specialists from Moscow and St. Petersburg - those who are in the top 10 in the country today.
What are your plans for the future?
We will expand the number of directions. Today, four thousand students study at 18 departments. We have 46 areas of training. We have expanded the educational and age range.
In 2023, our comprehensive sports school opened its doors.
Last year we recruited the first 125 children - we opened a college at the university. We will train personnel for undergraduate studies, and in the future for master's and postgraduate studies.
The university, being a part of the personnel training system, both at the federal and regional levels, has consistently built a system of continuous education.
Now our system includes all levels of education: comprehensive sports school, college, undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate.
We have 41 sports teams, and we do not set the task of being first everywhere, although there are teams with serious results. Three university teams are in the top league, the rest are in student leagues.
Anything beautiful in sport is quickly adopted by the youth
Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the idea of resuming sports parades on Red Square. Is it possible to organise such parades in Kazan?
We used to hold such sports parades on Freedom Square. Look at the newsreel footage. It was a very beautiful spectacle. Unfortunately, many things have been forgotten.
As for the resumption of parades on Red Square, I believe that they would not only be a spectacular event, but would also have a serious career guidance effect for a huge number of boys and girls. Believe me, everything beautiful in sport is quickly adopted by young people.
"We are robbing the whole world of ourselves in terms of spectacle and result."
Politics, unfortunately, interferes a lot in sporting life. Western sports officials are trying to call the Friendship Games, which are to be held in Moscow and Ekaterinburg in the 24th year, illegitimate. Potential participants are intimidated by sanctions, and WADA says that Russia cannot organise such games because they do not meet their standards. What should we do about it, how should we react to it, and why is all this happening, in your opinion?
Let the politicians deal with politics. Our colleagues from different countries recognise that all athletes suffer from these sanctions. But many countries cannot express their opinion on this or that, because it is politics again.
I would not like to get into the political part of this issue, but believe me, there cannot be a world champion in rhythmic gymnastics without the participation of Russian athletes. Never will this man be able to call himself a true champion.
And there are many such sports, such sports that are cultivated in our country. For example, ice hockey. Even big tennis, which used to be not quite "our sport". Today, the Russian Federation team is winning one tournament after another.
How can games be played without Russian volleyball players? Our Zenit is one of the most titled clubs in the world. How can the Italians or Brazilians call themselves champions when there is a club in Kazan that has repeatedly beaten them and now is forced not to take part in competitions.
They themselves are very uncomfortable and uncomfortable with the whole situation.
You can say that about all sports. When you compete with a worthy person, the result is better for everyone. Athletes have been training since childhood to improve the results of their predecessors.
There is no need to bring each other to some alternative games. It's not us who invented it, it's us who are being driven to the point where we have to defend ourselves and say we have sport.
I think that serious results will be achieved at the BRICS Games. Athletes will compete at venues certified by international federations. It will be seen who achieved what results in Shanghai, Kazan, Tashkent or Colorado. The best will become the champion.
Of course, I would like it to be in a face-to-face competition. It's a completely different feeling for the athletes themselves, for the spectators. We are robbing the whole world of ourselves in terms of spectacle and results. We have to organise tournaments to keep our athletes in shape, so that athletes of those countries who want to train and compete with us would have such an opportunity.
Read more: IA "Tatar-Inform"
