First Belarusian world cup rhythmic gymnastics lap to gather a record number of participants

On May, 16-18, 2008 in Minsk Palace of Sport representatives from 31 states are competing for medals. According to Irina Leparskaya, the head coach of the national rhythmic gymnastics team of Belarus , none of the other world cup laps has ever gathered such a number of participants: “This is the last competition before the Olympics and that explains such an interest, - “Soyuznoe Veche” cites the coach . – Gymnasts even from such countries as Malaysia and Cape Verde will come to us!”

On May, 16-18, 2008 in Minsk Palace of Sport representatives from 31 states are competing for medals. According to Irina Leparskaya, the head coach of the national rhythmic gymnastics team of Belarus , none of the other world cup laps has ever gathered such a number of participants: “This is the last competition before the Olympics and that explains such an interest, - “Soyuznoe Veche” cites the coach . – Gymnasts even from such countries as Malaysia and Cape Verde will come to us!”

However the main favorites of the competition will obviously become Russian sportswomen who will come to Minsk in the strongest team. Kanaeva, Kapranova, Sessina –all these girls claim to participate in the Olympics. But only two of them can go to Beijing. Who exactly – that will be clear only after the Minsk tournament.

Russian girls will arrive in Belarus in a private plane of the head coach Irina Viner. How can it be that a coach has a plane? It is not a wonder when the husband of a coach is one of the 20 richest people of Russia. For many years has been Irina Viner the wife of Alisher Usmanov. His fortune is valued at more than 5 billion pounds. Oligarch owns the “Mus-TV” channel and “Kommersant” newspaper as well as a very large block of shares of London “Arsenal”. Such a man can provide a fair one with a private plane…

By the way on the board of the plane Alina Kabaeva will be definitely absent. The most titled gymnast of the present has tried to return in big sport during the last two years, but has never been able to recover the old level. Last year Alina became the deputy of the Russian State Duma and finally said farewell to the dream about Olympics. Well, it is senseless to be sad about the Kabaeva’s going away as it means that Belarusian Inna Zhukova, our main Olympic hope, has at least one rival fewer.

In a word the holding of the world cup lap on the threshold of the Olympics in Minsk may strengthen the position of Inna Zhukova. In such a subjective sport as rhythmic gymnastics every nuance is important, including a great organization of big tournaments.

Recently in the gymnastic world another important event has taken place that may influence the Olympic medals distribution. Irina Diryugina, the the head coach of the national rhythmic gymnastics team of Ukraine, was subject to the eight-year disqualification from FIG, (with no reasonable grounds). And the attitude towards coaches very often reflects in the attitudes towards sportsmen…