Tskhinval is slowly recovering after the Georgian aggression. Many unhoused families are still staying with their relatives. But even their eyes lit with joy when it was announced that a modern sports centre would be built in two year’s time in the South Ossetian capital at the cost of the charity foundation run by Russian Olympic champion, member of the State Duma Alina Kabaeva.
The desolate uptown city park has not seen such a crowd for 17 years. All afternoon of April 2 well-dressed people were coming here with children.
“This park used to be our favourite resting area,” says Zhanna Zaseyeva, aid to President of South Ossetia. “People formerly came here for the Ferris wheel and other amusement rides or to watch movies in the summer theatre. The park suffered badly from the first Georgian aggression in 1991. After that, occasional bullets and shells reached here from nearby Georgian villages.”
Yury Sabanov’s building crew is busy with final preparations for the groundbreaking ceremony. It is mixing concrete for laying of a time capsule with a message to the first Olympic champion to come from the independent South Ossetia.
“Many of my crewmen were left homeless by last year’s Georgian bombings,” Sabanov says. “But you can’t imagine the enthusiasm with which they set about preparing the site. This sports centre is an investment in our children and grandchildren, in our peaceful future.”
By the time President Eduard Kokoity and Alina Kabaeva, the two most awaited persons, arrived on the site, it seemed that half of the city had gathered there. The site had been cleared of rusty metalwork and overgrown bushes by the builders. Teams of young gymnasts, wrestlers and footballers were standing closest to the pulpit.
“We have to have classes with the kids in the nursery,” laments Marina Kabulova, a gymnastics coach. “We don’t have any other room. The sport schools are destroyed. But now my students will have a good incentive to go for new heights.”
Several minutes later, Alina Kabaeva will say to the meeting:
“I was shocked when I came here right after the war to bring mats for the rhythmic gym. I saw the gym had become useless. The other rooms were just razed to the ground. Could the building be repaired? Or should we build a new one? It was a heart cry, but I still decided upon new construction.
The sports complex will include facilities for rhythmic gymnastics, dancing, wrestling, and swimming, 1500 seat stands, and a health centre. Its construction will take two years and will be financed by Alina Kabaeva’s charity foundation.
The park surrounding the building will be restored. When asked if she liked the site allotted for the construction, Alina answered:
“Of course. I enjoy the idea of parents walking in this park with their small kids. That will be great!”
After the ground-breaking ceremony was over, Alina was besieged by children. Each wanted a pep talk and a photo with the celebrity gymnast.
“Look at the joy in the eyes of the kids!” Eduard Kokoity said emotionally.
Alina Kabaeva promised she would keep track of the construction progress and hold master classes together with other famous Russian athletes there when the sports centre is opened.
