RIA Novosti: “Water Polo Hall of Fame” was presented in Moscow

© RIA Novosti / Konstantin Chalabov

MOSCOW, November 25 - RIA Novosti, Veronika Gibadieva. The Russian Water Polo Federation (FWPR) held a presentation of the “Water Polo Hall of Fame” project in Moscow.

The project presentation is timed to the 40th anniversary of the victory of the USSR men's water polo team at the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980. As stated in the FVPR press release, “the concept of the project is based on the idea of preserving and transferring the historical heritage of the domestic water polo to the younger generation”. Its main task is to perpetuate the sporting achievements of domestic water polo players and foster a sense of patriotism.

“Olympic champions are people who glorify sports. Thanks to them, children come to sports, and this is a matter of improving the nation. Water polo attracts a large audience around the world, and need to glorify our Olympic champions. We need to remember their achievements and raise this sport up to the heights it was when our Olympic champions won their gold medals,” - said FVPR President Aleksey Vlasenko at a press conference.

The Head of the FVPR Board of Trustees, Andrei Belyaninov, noted that water polo in the country should be revived and attention should be drawn to its history. “We remember the 1980 very well. Then the USSR was practically in the same situation as Russia now - we lived under sanctions. Many countries did not let their athletes to participate in the Olympics. But this does not diminish our team merits. Now this kind of sport is practically dying both in Russia and on the territory of the former Soviet Union. It needs to be revived, and this task is feasible, though not easy,” - he stressed.

“I would like to hope that this wonderful idea would be implemented as soon as possible. People leave; the connection between generations interrupts. We hope that this project will be implemented,” - said two-time Olympic champion Vyacheslav Sobchenko.

An expert council that will include veterans of the national water polo will select the candidates for the “Hall of Fame”. For now the project will be virtual, the organizers hope to find premises for the Museum of the “Water Polo Hall of Fame”.

Source