Ο Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας σε αγώνες κωπηλασίας

της Ρώσικης δημοκρατίας φυσικά.

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08/06/2010 16:27 CET

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev was there. Sir Steve Redgrave was there. The first Russian President's Cup Rowing Regatta in St. Petersburg, Russia, brought rowing back to the forefront and celebrated 150 years of boat racing in the city.
More than just racing, the regatta was a celebration of the history of rowing in Russia. The rowers were welcomed by the governor of St Petersburg, Valentina Matviyenko. Matviyenko described the founder of St Petersburg, Peter the Great, as an excellent rower and she hoped that the President's Cup Regatta would reinstate the city as Russia’s rowing capital.
The choice of St Petersburg for the first presidential regatta was because the city had the first boating club in Russia, founded in 1718 by Peter the Great who drew up plans of rowing vessels in that year. The first competition for boat racing took place on the Neva River in 1860.
Sir Steve Redgrave was there in the capacity of his role with Great Britain’s foreign office to promote the 2012 London Olympics. Sir Steve accepted the title of honorary Presidency of the English Rowing Club which has been rebuilt in St Petersburg to mark the 150th anniversary of rowing sports in Russia.
In his speech Sir Steve said, “I am very proud that my fellow countrymen were among the founders of this wonderful sport in your country.” 
President Medvedev presented awards and medals to past Russian rowing greats and in his awards ceremony speech President Medvedev used rowing to stress the importance of an active and healthy way of life said, “I appeal to the Sports Ministry, sport federations and regional authorities for giving more attention to rowing sport. The regatta will send a message to authorities, business and average citizens.”
“I hope this will become an annual event,” he said.
Medvedev noted that 11 Olympic Champions and dozens of World and European Champions had come from St Petersburg. He presented medals to Vyacheslav Ivanov who won three Olympic gold medals in the single. Ivanov received the Order of Friendship for his contribution to rowing. Medvedev also decorated two-time Olympic Champions Alexandr Timoshinin and Juri Tchukalov.
The racing part saw competition between rowers from Russia, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, Belarus, and teams from Cambridge (GBR), Yale (USA) and St Petersburg State universities.