Two-time Olympic champion Vyacheslav Bykov – a legendary figure not only of national hockey, but of all national sports. After his professional career ended, Bykov worked as head coach of the Russian national team and managed KHL clubs, and continued to win numerous titles. In an exclusive interview with a Championship observer, Bykov expressed his opinion on the most global and pressing issues, including the neutral status of Russian athletes at the Olympic Games, the Fedotov case and the exclusion of Russian hockey teams from tournaments by the IIHF.
When and how will Russian hockey teams return to the international arena?
“No matter how much they say that sport is outside of politics, they are all words”
— When do you think the IIHF will come to its senses and finally allow our teams to participate in international competitions? — As soon as Russia achieves a certain result in the Northern Military District and everything ends in our favor, all sports issues will also immediately be reflected in its actions. This also applies to hockey. No matter how much they say that sport is outside of politics, all this is just words. In fact, everything is connected, everything is intertwined. The dependence of international sports federations on politics is high.
— Do you agree that the current young generation of players is losing a lot? Basically, people were banned from playing in world championships and other major competitions. How to compensate for all this? — On the one hand, it is a shame and a pity for the boys that the younger generation now cannot compare their potential with that of young people and with the potential of Western countries. But crying in a corner I don’t think that’s our principle. We must find solutions, for this there are the main people responsible for the sport and the hockey federation. People who must look for an opportunity so that young people, all our boys and athletes who have been subjected to this discrimination, can continue their development. It is important to note here that we are talking about all teams, there are no age or gender differences. Russia’s women’s, men’s and youth teams are all the same.
VYACHESLAV BYKOV AND THE RUSSIAN HOCKEY TEAM
Photo: RIA Novosti
Position on the NHL and the Fedotov case
“We must put the player himself, his destiny, his life, his sporting career in the foreground”
— I know you’re not talking about the NHL on principle, but they don’t touch Russian players there. Please explain your position. — I decided to abstract myself from issues related to the NHL, because the way we were treated, in principle, does not interfere with any objective. For God’s sake, our boys play there. This is his bread and butter, they try to make money from it and, to some extent, promote our hockey. Here we see that NHL business, directly related to the league, takes first place, and other aspects take second place and beyond. But the international community also has its own business system and federations also make money.
— The IIHF threatens Russia with new sanctions in the Fedotov case, including the expulsion of the FHR from the international federation. How to deal with this situation? Should we obey IIHF orders under current conditions? — In this case, the FHR, the Russian Sports Ministry and sports lawyers should jointly develop some solutions. Develop contacts, have some kind of dialogue, talk, look for a compromise. We need common ground. We must put the player himself, his destiny, his life, his sporting career in the foreground and establish relationships between all interested parties.
The confusion of Pavel Bure
Exclusive
“I don’t know what the point of Fedotov’s case is. “Philadelphia and we are happy with everything.” Interview with Bure
Friendship with René Fasel
“René Fasel was my doctor”
— You worked on the national team with René Fasel at the head of the IIHF. Do you agree that he was a leader of a completely different level than the current president Luc Tardif? Fasel always loved and respected Russia. “I think René is a very politically literate person and, in human terms, a very sensitive, subtle and fair person. In this sense, he respected his work, he respected his colleagues and those organizations that were part of the IIHF. He tried, like a typical Swiss, to always remain neutral. I always tried to look for common points, solutions and solutions to any situation, so as not to reach any conflictive situation or those moments that could lead to it. René is a very flexible, respectful, knowledgeable and competent specialist.
-Are you still friends with him? – We have known each other for a long time. He was my doctor, he is also a professional and certified dentist. Very good specialist! A person has two different professions, but he is good at both. René would be a very good diplomat, although in sporting, humanitarian and human terms he is also one. He has a very nice family, children, I repeat, we have known each other for a long time. It is always a pleasure to communicate with him, talk and search for different topics.
René Fasel’s new position
The KHL has created a committee of referee experts, headed by René Fasel.
—Do you communicate in French? – Yes, but now in Russian (laughs). And you know, I’m not surprised, since this person quickly learns and grasps not only the languages, but also the culture. By learning a language, he immediately becomes cultured, so to speak. That’s why I try to talk to him only in Russian, but if necessary we switch to French. In general, this scholar speaks many languages.
RENEÉ FAZEL AND VYACHESLAV BYKOV
Photo: Sergey Fedoseev, photo.khl.ru
Russian athletes at the Olympic Games under a neutral flag
“The person themselves, the athlete themselves, must make a very difficult and important decision for them”
— A global sports topic that I would like to discuss with you. Do you think Russian athletes should go to the Olympic Games in a neutral condition? —I would leave the decision to the athlete himself, respecting his choice and his position. In no way should he be accused of anything or reproached for this or that decision. The person himself, the athlete himself, must make a very difficult and important decision for him.
Problems of our athletes.
Russia’s neutral athletes will lose government funding. What does it mean?
— You are a two-time Olympic champion. Do you agree that the Olympic Games stay with a person forever? “I think this is one of the most important events in the life of an athlete. Some people may participate once, while others are lucky to participate even when such an opportunity exists. People try to look their best when the global holiday arrives. Not only get satisfaction, but also find the limits of your capabilities, let’s put it that way. At the same time representing his family and his country.
“Hopefully everything goes well for our athletes.” “My wishes for all our athletes is that in the search for their limits, they always try to achieve the best results and receive satisfaction from their work. To please your loved ones and fans. Good luck to them, good health, we will support and care for them. And our leaders will patiently and creatively find solutions to change this situation in our favor.
THE NAIS IS OFFICIAL EDITOR ON NAIS NEWS