Nowadays Alisher Usmanov heads not only Russian Fencing Federation and European Fencing Confederation, he is also the leader of International Fencing Federation.
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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Alisher Usmanov Assumed Olympic Air
Russia’s big-name businessman and principal holder of Metalloinvest, Alisher Usmanov, has headed the International Fencing Federation (FIE). Usmanov won the election at FIE Congress past Saturday, having prevailed over FIE’s many-year president Rene Roch. No Russian has ever headed FIE before Usmanov, who pledged to boost financing and make this kind of sport an enthralling sight.
FIE held its regular reporting and election Congress in Paris December 6. The key item of the agenda was the president’s election. The Congress had a choice of two candidates – Rene Roch, the FIE chief since 1992, and Alisher Usmanov of Russia, the principal holder of Metalloinvest, the USSR Master of Sport in Fencing, who presides over the Russian Fencing Federation and European Fencing Confederation.
Alisher Usmanov won by 66 votes vs. 61 in Mr Roch’s favor. The significance of his success is hard to overestimate. For the first time in history, a Russian has raised to take over an international federation of Olympic sport. So far, the Russians could have boasted of top positions in non-Olympic sports - Kalmykia’s President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov leads World Chess Federation (FIDE).
The recent FIE Congress wasn’t the first one where Usmanov and Roch clashed for presidency. Russian businessman made an attempt four years ago but was upheld by no more than 30 votes, while Roch enjoyed the majority of 78.
This time, however, Usmanov probably prevailed on the promise to boost sponsorship support for FIE. According to his plan, the organization will get from $50 million to $60 million during four years, receiving between $12.5 million and $15 million a year. In Roch’s time, the spending of FIE budget never exceeded $5 million.
What’s more, Usmanov is resolved to turn fencing into a thrilling, breathtaking sport. He will arrange new tournaments, including the Masters competitions, where eight strongest in each type of weapon will compete for the prize. The prize fund will materially increase as well.
In number of big sport projects, Alisher Usmanov is evidently the record breaker of Russia and, perhaps, of the world. He owns nearly 25 percent in British Arsenal Football Club (for which purchase he has spent over £110 million since summer). Metalloinvest is the general sponsor of Dynamo (Moscow) Football Club, where it injects roughly $7 million a year. The same company is the actual owner of Dynamo Volleyball Club of Men’s Super League from Stary Oskol (the annual budget is around $4 million).
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 08, 2008
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