Only a year and a half is left before the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. However, the prospects of our national team still look rather vague and do not inspire optimism. Especially against the background of a failed performance at the previous Olympics in Vancouver, where our athletes managed to win only 3 gold medals.
To rectify the situation, the leadership of our Olympic Committee has taken a number of measures. Since 2011, members of the Olympic and Paralympic teams have been awarded scholarships in the amount of 32 thousand rubles per month. Many training bases and rehabilitation and rehabilitation centers were put into operation again, sponsors were attracted, foreign specialists were invited. The Canadian experience is being actively studied, thanks to which the hosts of the previous Olympics achieved excellent results.
Nevertheless, the results of recent competitions in some sports are not encouraging. For example, the 2010/2011 season in biathlon can hardly be called anything other than a failure. And this despite the involvement of one of the richest people in Russia M. Prokhorov as a sponsor and the invitation to work with the women's national team of a world-famous coach V. Pichler. As noted by many media outlets, "… there is no generational change in the team, there is no proper preparation and a good psychological atmosphere, and money abundance and successful managers outside of sports cannot rectify the situation."
The situation with our skiers and skiers looks more optimistic. Of the 12 sets of awards that will be played in Sochi, the Russians can claim 4 gold medals.
In bobsleigh competitions they pin their hopes on our illustrious couple: A. Voevoda - A. Zubkov.
In luge sports, Russia has a good chance of winning several medals. To improve the work on general physical and starting training, the famous German specialist M. Halebrant was invited to the national team.
In ski jumping, alas, now there is no need to talk about chances for awards. Since the top two jumpers were out of action: one died in a car accident and the other was seriously injured. The results of other "flying skiers" will hardly allow them to come close to the strongest group.
You can count on medals in figure skating competitions, ice hockey, short track speed skating, speed skating. There is still time.
