ON THE ROAD TO ATLANTA
Sports minister comments on Ukraine's preparations
Valeriy Borzov, Ukraine's minister of youth and sports, who is also the chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC) and a member of the International Olympic Committee, was in the United States February 1-8. During his seven-day stay he traveled to Philadelphia, Chicago and New York and met with the Ukrainian communities of those cities to give them a brief overview of Ukraine's Olympic potential.
The Weekly had an opportunity to speak with Minister Borzov when he visited the Ukrainian National Association offices on February 8. Accompanying him was Laryssa Barabash-Temple, the U.S. representative of Ukraine's NOC. The Weekly staff editor Roman Woronowycz conducted the interview along with editorial assistant Yarema Bachynsky and Svoboda editor Olha Kuzmowycz.
Following is the conclusion of an edited version of the interview.
CONCLUSION
Q: Ukraine, reportedly, was one of three teams that spent the most time preparing for the Games in Atlanta. Please tell us specifically, Mr. Borzov, how this should help the athletes.
A: I would not make a direct correlation that because we trained in Atlanta in 1995 we will win the Olympics. There is no such correlation. But there is that seed that has been formed. People have been there and have a clear idea of the athletic accommodations and the places where they will prepare and compete. This reduces psychological and nervous stress, and the more a person can reduce these unneeded stresses, the more one can concentrate on the fundamental task.
One can dispense with nervous energy and fears associated with traveling to an unknown place, because one has been there previously and has the proper frame of mind. This is important from a psychological point of view - to be familiar with your surroundings.
All this involves tactics, psychology, the maintenance of nervous energy and the concentration of one's attention on the fundamental task at hand.
Q: Given that you know the abilities of the 200 athletes, how do you see the Ukrainian Olympic team finishing in terms of gold, silver and bronze medals?
A: I find it important to analyze it on the basis of real people who have achieved real results in world championships.
The Ukrainian Olympic program in 1995 produced nine world champions, nine gold medals. We also have silver and bronze medalists, and fifth-place finishes, too, which also is not bad. I would be satisfied if we came away with eight or nine gold medals. It goes without saying that there could be plus or minus a few, depending on the harshness of the weather, and other factors, but these will be felt by all the competitors. How it will pan out will depend on fate, on God's will and on chance, given that all are comparably prepared.
But we are currently making plans to ensure that the athletes will be acclimated as best as possible to the [hot and humid] weather. That is why it was important in 1995 to spend two weeks here and also that we do so in 1996, prior to the Games. Following last year's training and acclimatization trips, athletes, their trainers and physicians were carefully questioned as to their needs, so that this year's acclimatization would be as helpful to them as possible.
Q: When do the athletes arrive for the Games?
A: The athletes will arrive in two groups. The first group, comprising those athletes taking part in earlier events, arrive July 6. The second group arrives on July 15. Both will have a full two weeks of acclimatization and preparation before competing.
Q: Could you tell us if there is a person or a firm that is responsible for the sales of tickets for the Olympic Games, whether in Ukraine or among the Ukrainian communities of the diaspora.
A: (Ms. Temple interjects: The International Sports Corp.)
But one point here. Roman Olenych, who took this work upon himself, must abide by strict guidelines set by the Atlanta organizing committee. There is a whole set of regulations on how to handle the tickets.
He paid for the tickets. It was about $1 million. There were pre-pay deadlines - first payment, second payment, third payment - and needless to say, these were large payments and we could not afford them.
(Ms. Temple: Mr. Olenych was born in Toronto but now lives in Manchester [Great Britain]. His firm is called the International Sports Corp. As the minister pointed out, he knows the criteria put forth by ACOG [Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games]. He can only sell tickets in Ukraine.
Q: Only in Ukraine?
A: (Ms. Temple: He is a ticket agent only for Ukraine. But we have packages, full sponsorship packages. For sponsors we can get tickets.
Q: So, then citizens of the U.S. should go through Ukraine?
A: They should go through Mr. Olenych, but it should be routed through Ukraine. But these are details. We must be careful here to stick to the regulations.
Q: Mr. Minister, a somewhat more personal question. In 1972, you became "The Fastest Man in the World." While at the Munich Games, you made a point of highlighting your Ukrainian identity, although you were a member of the Soviet team. At the 1976 Montreal Games you were exposed to, or aware of, anti-Soviet demonstrations by Ukrainian emigres. There were even rumors that you were planning to defect to the West. Could you set the record straight on this?
A: Do you wish to know the truth? Although the truth may at times be inconvenient, you can never get away from it. It is true that I told reporters that I am Ukrainian. It is also true that I was a member of the unified Soviet team. When they asked where I was from, I told them simply, "from Ukraine." Regarding the demonstrations, I was personally insulted, in Ukrainian, on several occasions. This was a human reaction to the fact that, though from Ukraine, I was wearing a certain uniform. It is understandable in its context.
Regarding my alleged plans for defection, a news item on the main Canadian channel broadcast "information" that Borzov was no longer present at the Olympic Village. Later, that he had been absent from there for three days. Finally, that he had asked for political asylum. I couldn't tell you where these rumors originated, only that they were aired. There was even the matter of a small plastic explosive package sent to the Olympic Village.
Q: So where were you at the time that rumors of your absence and asylum request were circulating in Montreal?
A: I was at the Village. Who knows where these rumors came from? Incidents of this sort, such as the hostage-taking by the Black September terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games and similar violence have no place at the Olympics. They violate the very charter of the Games and politicize what was not intended as a divisive endeavor.
Q: Speaking of politics, could you characterize the relationship between the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the presidency. As someone appointed by former President Leonid Kravchuk, what is the nature of your dealings with President Leonid Kuchma? How often do you meet?
A: Actually I am working in the fifth government since my appointment, and with the second president. As a member of the Cabinet of Ministers, I maintain regular and normal relations with the president and Parliament. Naturally, the substantive nature of the relationship is characterized by bringing to the president's attention only those matters within the minister's jurisdiction of sufficient importance to merit the president's attention. For example, there is an organizing committee within the presidential administration that assists us in coordinating our work. Olympics-related matters are coordinated by a similar body. Both Presidents Kuchma and Kravchuk understand the importance of sports vis-à-vis Ukraine and both have kept the door open when it comes to supporting sports programs. I would say we have a normal and positive working relationship.
Q: Mr. Minister, what sorts of relations is Ukraine conducting with countries of the CIS, the Baltic states and the like, on the amateur sport level? Are these at an adequate level?
A: Our fundamental principle is the establishment of direct, bilateral relations on the basis of treaties and protocols containing concrete goals and a concrete plan of action. Theoretically we could establish working relations in the sports sphere with the entire world. Insufficient financing is the only real barrier. We have worked to establish bilateral relations with Eastern Europe, the Baltics, France, the United States, etc. No formal agreement has been concluded with Russia; we are awaiting the signing of the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation.
Likewise, due to territorial questions, there is no treaty with Romania. In all there are 12 bilateral treaties in effect at this time. Regarding the CIS, we are prepared to work with any member-state on a direct bilateral basis. There is no need to create artificial superstructures, such as the Russian-inspired Association of CIS Olympic Committees. Ukraine is not a member of this body. I am an observer at their meetings and use the opportunity to keep current on matters of interest to Ukraine. This position corresponds with President Kuchma's foreign policy towards the CIS.
Q: You have stated that your relationship with the president and government is strong and fully functional. However, when it comes to such questions as allocation of promised funds and similar cooperation, does the government and Parliament put its money where its mouth is?
A: Everything depends on the financial situation in Ukraine. It is true that the Ministry of Youth and Sport is in last place when it comes to allocation of funds. We receive the least amount of money from the government of all the ministries. On the other hand, in promoting Ukraine's image and status in the world, I would say that our ministry is certainly not in last place. So there is a certain disparity, however keep in mind that financing of humanitarian programs in Ukraine today is conducted according to a well-defined pecking order. As you know, these problems can be directly attributed to an economy in crisis and large government debts.
Q: This makes the need for non-governmental support for sports in Ukraine even greater.
A: This is absolutely unavoidable. Close to $2 million in private sector support was raised by the various sports federations. We have sought to retain the entire sports infrastructure, an infrastructure that yields good results. We have maintained sports training schools, cadres, international competition, athletes' material support. On top of this we have managed to create a fully functioning national sports program that competes in its own right on the international level, something which did not exist during the Soviet era. We've established a research institute, coaches' training school. Other facilities are under construction or being renovated. And all this on a shoestring budget with minimal resources. We have even created a national handicapped sports center and regional subdivisions.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, March 3, 1996, No. 9, Vol. LXIV
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