The activities of the nation’s NOC, as Michael Degtyarev pointed out, truly reflect the full spectrum of its history over the past century and more: the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and modern Russia.
“Back in 1894, the IOC itself was established with the direct involvement of General Alexei Butovsky, a subject of the Russian Empire. He was seated at the same table as Pierre de Coubertin and the other founders of the global Olympic movement. The history of the National Olympic Committee dates back to 1911. While Russians first competed in the Games as early as 1900, by the time the ROC was formed, we had already earned our first Olympic medals. Notably, in 1908, figure skater Nikolai Panin-Kolomenkin won gold, becoming a champion.
After the hiatus following 1917, the Olympic Committee was reestablished in the USSR in 1951. By the way, we are also approaching the 75th anniversary of this event soon. The triumphs of the Soviet national team started. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the breakdown of the old system, the Russian Olympic Committee was formed. In challenging years, it became the central point that united everyone – managers, athletes, coaches. Our shared history is truly fascinating. We have a rich legacy to celebrate – Russia boasts over 2,000 Olympic medals and has hosted the Summer Olympics in 1980 and the Winter Olympics in 2014.
We are currently working hard to restore our position within the global Olympic movement, aiming to lift sanctions and end the discrimination against our athletes. I believe the progress is visible each day. Symbolically, as we celebrate the 115th anniversary, the Soyuz rocket is launching into space adorned with the ROC symbol. This beautifully represents the power of engineering and embodies the spirit of the Olympic movement. May faith, hope, and love guide us, as the passion for sports and our love for Russia bring us together!
