- After visiting Stavropol, the President went to Ulyanovsk Oblast, where he spoke with the athletes: young future stars, reigning champions, and the legends of our sports. Khabib Nurmagomedov, an MMA fighter, also came to the “Russia is a Sports Power” Forum. Last Sunday, he won a convincing victory over the famous Irishman, Conor McGregor. Although Nurmagomedov's father promised to punish his son for a scuffle after the fight, the president stood up for him.
- Of course, it wasn't just a talk between the athlete and the president, but a talk between two athletes. We have long been aware of President Putin's passion for judo. And recently we've found the Soviet article on the internet, called The Honorary Title. We decided to find out if this is a real article or if it's fake, as often happens on the internet. Our producer, Elena Menshikova, found this newspaper in some incomprehensible way. You see, there is no title, no output information, but still, we found this newspaper. It dates back to May 4th, 1976 and called Vecherniy Leningrad. And right here, on the third page, we can see a very small notice. Here is it, The Honorable Title.
And a small paragraph at the end of the article: "The judoist Vladimir Putin is still poorly known to a wide range of experts and fans. Finishing the Spartakiad tournament elevated him to the rank of champion for the first time. Vladimir trains at the Turbostroitel Sports Club successfully combining judo classes with wrestling", — says the newspaper.
What did the judoist Putin tell the fighter Nurmagomedov? Watch our report.
Seeing Khabib Nurmagomedov in the plane, the famous Olympic champion, Svetlana Gurova, immediately asked him for a joint photo. Khabib is in great demand. Everyone in the plane wants to speak with him.
Khabib Nurmagomedov: "We shall speak later, okay?"
Later means in Ulyanovsk. Putin invited him to the “Russia is a Sports Power” Forum. Khabib put on a shirt and trousers, took a photo and posted it on Instagram (запрещена в РФ), where he now has more than 12 million followers. A number many celebs can just dream of. A few seconds before the meeting with the president, the Minister of Sport greeted Nurmagomedov. And then a female voice asked: "Does anyone have a camera?" That's Deputy Prime Minister Golodets.
- Pavel Anatolievich, please, get us on the phone.
- I don't have one.
- Does someone have a phone?
Khabib's fans also gathered near the building. They saw the president’s car coming up here, but Khabib's car slipped by unnoticed.
"We saw Putin but didn't see Khabib".
However, the whole country later saw this footage. Putin congratulated the fighter.
Vladimir Putin: "I shall ask your father not to punish you severely. Because you dealt with the main challenge. You won. You won with dignity and conviction".
Nevertheless, Putin made it clear that Khabib should have avoided extremes. Though it wasn't easy.
Vladimir Putin: "If everyone outside attacks us, we can, not only you, make them pay a way they won't find funny. But still, it's better just to not let it happen".
Millions of Russians witnessed Nurmagomedov's fight, his choke hold, and then his jump into the crowd. Due to the Olympics, the World Cup, F1, the Universiade, and the revival of the TRP complex Russia has now become a sports power again.
- Tell us please, did you pass the TRP?
- I did. You should do like this. And did you pass the TRP?
Vladimir Putin: Yes, I did. At the time I was in school everyone passed the TRP. Me too. Though it wasn't very hard for me because I was engaged in wrestling and had a sports grade.
Before being involved in judo, Putin participated in boxing. He once even had his nose broken and the training stopped. And here is a shot from 2004 which few people have seen. Putin visiting a training session of professional boxers. A reaction time test, blow after blow.
"You have reflexes, Mr. Putin".
As the bandages are wound, and the gloves put on, they start practicing on a punching bag. These shots demonstrate the rather poor conditions that even the best Russian athletes had to train in.
- If we installed a couple more air conditioners here, it would go better.
Vladimir Putin: "Well, it's not only air conditioners that should be installed here".
Dozens of new stadiums all over the country, hundreds of modern sports complexes, crowded children's sports sections. People's attitude towards sports has surely changed.
Vladimir Putin: "This is one of the rates of social development".
The number of Russians constantly engaged in sports has increased by a third in recent years. And the more people involved in sports, the more equipment they need. Previously they were purchased from abroad, but now they're made by Russian manufacturers.
“"his is from the Canoe Sprint World Champs in Portugal".
"It's a water sports medal. It was in 2018".
"Sports has become fashionable. Nowadays we can find sports facilities even in the countryside".
The Universiade in Krasnoyarsk will be held soon, so the volunteers are recruiting now.
Vladimir Putin: "I want, want, want... But just wanting isn't enough".
The volunteers have plenty of skills: foreign languages, sympathy, creativity — everything to make the guests of the Universiade feel comfortable and excited.
- That's great. We should notice we have more good news tonight. Fedor Emelianenko defeated his American counterpart in Bellator. So, it was a good day and a good week for Russian sport. Pavel, can I congratulate you? I suppose, you also passed the TRP? No, I didn't. Cause I'm a bit late of age.
- But I'm going to deal with this issue.
- Thank you, Pavel.
