With no goals, no passes, no dribbling, no tackles, he might as well not be playing at all. He’s no trouble to the opposing team, and his own teammates don’t notice him. But spectators, analysts and reporters do notice. The crowds boo every movement of the Russian national team’s captain, analysts advise selling him as quickly as possible and reporters dismiss him...

The tears came dripping down: Fetisov is leaving hockey! He didn’t come to terms with the system and cannot exist in an atmosphere where anything and everything is corrupt. He has almost switched over to the opposition and is a ready-made candidate for filling the ranks, scary to say, of adversaries of the regime! But he is not a noble hero

There were no high hopes on the eve of the biathlon championship in Yugorsk in Khanty-Mansiisk (see Novaya Gazeta No.22, 2 March 2011), but reality was worse than the gloomiest forecasts: our squad was lucky to place sixth (the male team...

“I’ll survive it” joked the forward of Omsk Avangard club Alexei Cherepanov when he had his gum cut in a Saturday’s match versus ZSKA. Lyosha had only too days: his heart stopped on 13 October’s night after the match Vityaz vs. Avangard in...

The conflict between the head of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) Leonid Tyagachev and the head of Rosssport Vyacheslav Fetisov was doomed to happen. When two structures are engaged in similar activities, the conflict of interests is...

The Turkish team did so much and more. What it did explains why the mankind should spend time, money and efforts for a rather simple sport. During 15 minutes the most experienced defense at the championship was torn to pieces, crushed and...