Russia and Lithuania train together for Olympics
Published: 17 April, 2009, 13:18
Olympic athletes from Russia and Lithuania, irrespective of their respective nations’ political differences, have decided to train side-by-side in preparation for the Olympics.
The agreement, signed by the Russian Olympic Committee and its Lithuanian counterpart, states that athletes from both countries will be able to use each other’s training facilities.
Russia has signed similar agreements with a number of former Soviet republics in recent years, but such networking also extends far beyond its near borders, and even includes the United Arab Emirates.
The cooperation between national committees may reflect the Olympic spirit, but as with anything these days, it is still mostly about lobbying behind the scenes.
“It's very important to have the support of like-minded members when it's time for voting at the international Olympic committee,” says President of the Russian Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev.
“Sochi won its Olympic bid for the 2014 winter games by only three votes thanks to countries adjoining Russia and other Olympic committees around the world. Sometimes it's difficult to form a common opinion, but when it's reached, it's easier to win against states which are unfair and far from any sport.”
17.04.2009, 13:08
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Why should it be a surprise that two neighbouring countries should co-operate with each other? The surprising thing rather is that despite many invitations, as far as I am aware for 18 years no President or Prime Minister of sovereign Russia has visited any of the three Baltic countries – countries that are not only Russia’s immediate neighbours, but an important key to Russia’s better relations with the EU and with NATO. This remarkable Russian behaviour towards three peaceful neighbours with whom Moscow says it wants to have good relations is what should be making news at RT, not the fact that some cyclists train together.