Each club has its own system and fees for classes: some clubs include various additional options, while in others the fee is for the classes alone. As far as funding of competitions and uniforms is concerned, the rule here is that if the child is not in a team but wishes to take part in competitions this has to be paid for by the parents. When the child is selected for a team, the cost of taking part in competitions is covered by the state.

It was the same for us. A child has to prove by results that the state should fund his sporting successes. Everyone has different abilities, of course, and parents can’t always afford to send their child to competitions. The decision to take part in a competition is often a very difficult one.

So that’s why I have the greatest respect for parents who try to support their children’s successes in sport, even if this requires serious family expenditure. All children understand this perfectly and try their hardest. I think this attention is an investment in the child’s future, and it doesn’t matter whether he becomes a champion or not - the important thing is that he learns how to set targets and achieve them.