My trip to Voronezh appeared unexpectedly in my organizer. In December I received a very unusual invitation from Voronezh. It was a video invitation in which young gymnasts asked me to take part in a festival to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the rhythmic gymnastics school in Voronezh Region. Together with the invitation they sent me a beautiful video about the city. I couldn’t let the kids down and spent December 22nd in Voronezh.



The jubilee celebrations were well organized and everything was at high level. It was my first visit to the city and I really liked it. I also visited the sport’s school where rhythmic gymnastics in Voronezh actually began. Students were a bit nervous but put together a wonderful performance for the guests. The Governor of Voronezh Region, Aleksandr Gordeev, came to congratulate the kids, and presented the school with a new exercise mat and one million roubles to buy sports equipment.



After the performances there was a meeting with trainers and people from the Voronezh branch of the Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation. The future development of rhythmic gymnastics in Voronezh looks very good: a lot of children are willing and able to take up the sport and there’s no problem with trainers – the coaching staff is good. But there is a lack of sports halls, and those they have aren’t big enough to accommodate everyone. It’s really great that the local authorities and the Governor himself are doing so much to promote sport in the region. They have plans to build a sports complex.



In the evening there was a superb gala concert. The event was very well prepared. The presenters were cheerful and had lots of interesting things to say about the history of rhythmic gymnastics in Voronezh. Some of the veteran gymnasts were also invited to the concert and many warm and kind words were said to them. Of course, we saw performances by girls from Voronezh’s rhythmic gymnastics schools. All the children were dressed up, so happy and excited, and they all tried so hard that it was sheer delight to watch them.

In my address I said that children often say to me “We will be like you! We will be like Alina Kabaeva”, but I always answer: “You will be better than Alina Kabaeva”. I’m absolutely confident in this: the way rhythmic gymnastics is progressing these days and the rapid growth of interest toward it only adds more confidence. And you know, I’m really proud of our country’s successes in gymnastics. Thank you all and success in the New Year!