The idea behind the “Believe in Yourself” musical project is something that evolved gradually. The song was originally composed for the first “Alina” rhythmic gymnastics festival for children. I sang it together with the festival participants and we were accompanied by the man who wrote it - composer Igor Krutoy. But it was only later that we decided to record a clip that was first shown in May 2010 at the second rhythmic gymnastics festival. And that’s how the “Believe in Yourself” musical project came about.
Of course, I wasn’t planning to start a stage career when I recorded the song. I just wanted to tell young people that you can achieve a lot if you work at it, if you believe in yourself and your objective, and if you love what you do. And that’s why the clip begins with me saying:
“Today’s youth is the future of our country. And what that future is like depends on you and me, on each of us! But I’m sure we’ll cope. The only thing that can get in our way is we ourselves, our laziness or lack of confidence in what we can achieve. That’s why the Olympic slogan is now more important than ever before: surpass yourself, believe in yourself and move forward! For your own sake, for those you love, and for the great nation of Russia!”
The common theme running through the clip is youth sport and it stars young Russian athletes. This is something that’s close to my heart, because most of my life has been spent in sport. And I can say for sure that I owe much of my success today to what sport gave me. Children and young people need to play sport to stay healthy. Sport disciplines and organizes you and gives you a sense of purpose.
Ahead of us lie the Unversiade, the Sochi Olympics and the football World Cup. We need to pay particular attention to developing sport for children and young people, give them the correct guidance and create the environment they need to develop successfully.
Filming that programme was a real adventure and it made a strong impression on me! My impression of those youngsters sitting around me and talking sincerely about their problems and successes, asking me whatever they wanted, of their reactions to my answers, of their eyes – it was a terrific sensation! And you know, I found it very relaxing and cozy, even when they were asking me difficult questions. Probably because they were not trying to catch me out, but were asking out of genuine interest in me and my life. We had a very good conversation.
There were kids of every age taking part in that conversation, and they were really open, direct and kind. Under the rules I could refuse to answer three of their questions, but I tried to answer all of them, though it wasn’t always easy. At the end of the programme I took away with me, as a member of the State Duma, an excellent wish-list of improvements to our youth policy. The kids told me about their needs and wishes.
Their most touching requests were for the abolition of the Common State Exam, for less alcohol and cigarettes and more computers in schools with good teaching software…. Many of these wishes would be better addressed to a magician, but there’s nothing wrong with that. I know it’s very important to have an understanding of how young people live, and what worries them, moves them or upsets them… And this programme was a good step in my understanding. A big thank-you to everyone who works on the programme, and especially to Tatyana Maximova! It’s an excellent project; we need more like that on TV.
