Zavidovo 50 Jubilee Diplomatic Games

On August 25, 2007 festivities were held on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Zavidovo Recreational Center, a GlavUpDK Affiliate.

Diplomatic Olympics which, according to tradition, wrap up the summer season at Zavidovo, were dedicated to the anniversary. The event was made possible thanks to the support of the Russian Olympic Committee with the Games’ motto In its year of anniversary Zavidovo Recreational Center welcomes Sochi 2014 being another reminder of the Russian city of Sochi’s recent win to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. Embassy staff members from 20+ nations, Russian Foreign Ministry and GlavUpDK employees competed in Olympic disciplines like soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross-country, rowing, skeet shooting, tennis and table tennis, billiards, fishing and chess.

Opening the Games, Ambassador Ivan I. Sergeev, Director General, read the welcome address sent to participants by Vice Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov emphasizing the importance of offering Russia’s expatriate community sporting opportunities. On numerous occasions, Chiefs of Diplomatic Missions themselves showed an excellent individual performance in the Diplomatic Olympics and led their teams to victory, Mr Sergeev noted. He then drew the public’s attention to the all-star makeup of the Judge Panel: many times’ Olympic, world, European champs Lyudmila Titova, Olga Brusnikina, Alexey Nemov, Mikhail Nestruev, Alexander Mostovoy, Sergey Panov and international class referees Baranov and Sarayev.

IOC member Vitaly Smirnov congratulated athletes and guests on behalf of the Internaitonal Olympic Committee reiterating the IOC’s support of all types of physical activity compliant with the Olympic Charter principles. ROC Vice-President V.Vasin  read a congratulatory address by ROC President Leonid Tyagachev saying that Diplomatic Games do not only make people of different age and national background healthier but also are a powerful impetus for strengthening understanding, friendship, cooperation among the nations of our planet.

Competitors then moved to their competition venues where, heated by the hot sun of August, they started a serious fight for victory. GlavUpDK and its affiliates’ employees placed first performing great in the cross-country race, basketball, tennis, men’s shooting and chess. Zavidovo’s athletes won the soccer, fishing and billiards events. The embassies of Kyrghyzstan, Ecuador, Romania, Moldova, Indonesia, Kazakhstan proved to be the most involved. The Kyrghyz Embassy, for instance, got the volleyball cup winning Team Moldova in the final round. The table tennis champion and runner-up title went to the Embassy of Vietnam and the Embassy of Kazakhstan respectively. The Mongolian Ambassador ranked third in the skeet shooting event which got him a Zavidovo logo anniversary watch.
A press conference was held on the occasion of the jubilee with GlavUpDK Director General Ivan Sergeev, Zavidovo Director Vladimir Rasskazaov, IOC Member Vitaly Smirnov, ROC Vice-President Vladimir Vasin, Tver Region Vice-Governor Konstantin Buyevich, Russian Tourist Industry Union Sergey Shpilko and Judge Panel Chairman Galina Gorokhova as speakers. It was indicated that Zavidovo is a company with a high ROI and up to date service standards. The Recreational Center is popular with both the Russian and expatriate communities. Zavidovo’s management, however, would not rest on the laurels; on the contrary, they are planning to launch some new services placing the focus on aquatic sports.

An interesting program was offered to the numerous guests who came to congratulate the Zavidovo Recreational Center. They could root for either Russian or expatriate athletes, take a ride along the Volga, see a water bike show and an exhibition dressage performance by the Alfares sport club. Speedy riders could test drive the new BMW X5.

An anniversarial reception  for Russian officials, heads of foreign missions, Tver regional officials crowned the Diplomatic Olympiad. An excellent management and high qualification of the Affiliate’s team account for the progress, indicated Ambassador Sergeev.

GlavUpDK received numerous welcome addresses on Zavidovo’s fiftieth anniversary from federal, regional and local legislative and executive authorities. GlavUpDK Director General read the word of welcome by Foreign Minister Sergyev Lavrov saying “Zavidovo’s hospitality is well known. Its foundation is the understanding that working to make favorable conditions for expatriates’ recreation is very important. And those challenges being met work for maintaining Russia’s positive image abroad”.

Presidential Envoy Plenipotentiary in the Central Federal Area Georgy Poltavchenko also spoke highly of the Resort indicating, in particular, that “Zavidovo is involved in active promotion of a healthy life style and its infrastructure and services are up to the most up to date standards of international hospitality.

Honored Artist of Russia Alexander Marshal’s recital and performances by A’Capella Express and PolNeba music teams continued the soiree.

The event culminated in a spectacular laser show and fireworks with colorful stars scattered all across the dark and glassy Volga.