24 february 2012

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin meets with Russian, Canadian hockey players from 1972 Summit Series

Participants:
Vladimir Putin described 1972’s Summit Series as one of the major events in the history of world ice hockey of the 20th century, remarking that it promoted more normal, human relations between people in the context of international relations existing at the time.

Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:

Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon.

I would like to thank you for accepting the invitation of our hockey players and sport organisers. The 1972 Summit Series between the best from Russia and the best from Canada, which you were a part of, was certainly one of the ice hockey milestones of the 20th century. If I remember correctly, the leading scorers were Phil Esposito, Team Canada forward, and legendary Soviet player, Alexander Yakushev. But the exact points scored are not the main thing now; all of you were incredibly talented stars and you are still big names in the world of ice hockey. I must say that the event made a strong impression on millions of people in North America – Canada and the United States – as well as in Europe and the Soviet Union. It was not only the fact that top government officials turned their attention to hockey and became, in fact, directly involved in the events, but the change in most people’s attitudes toward ice hockey and toward sports in general. Moreover, major international sporting events were seen in the context of the day’s international politics. Therefore, despite the tensions of the times, the 1972 championships promoted and encouraged more normal, human relationships between people.

You know that – thanks to the other bidders – Russia will be hosting the 2016 IIHF World Championship, and in 2014, we will host the Winter Olympics. We expect both competitions to be grand-scale, festive events for all Russian and international sport lovers. I know that your visit to Russia is to promote hockey and sport in general. I think this is a good and worthwhile initiative. I can’t say how much I appreciate it. Welcome.

Rene (to IIHF President Rene Fasel), would you like to say something? Sagst du was? (speaks German)

Rene Fazel (via interpreter): Mr prime minister, I would like to thank you for organising this meeting, which is a special occasion for me. I was just 22 years old, when the Super League was played. I was rooting for the Soviet Union more than I was for hockey. Please, forgive me, Canada. And again, I am thankful to Russia for having brought us together.

Phil Esposito (via interpreter): This is the first time for us to meet like this. Thank you for giving us this chance. We don’t have any political agenda in meeting here; it’s just an important thing for us. As far as I remember, all of us appeared in a TV report, but that was long ago – 1981 or 1982. Before the Summit Series, we had no idea how good the Soviet players were. You were just brilliant! We thought it would be just an all-stars game, nothing serious, just playing for the public. But it was the most challenging and the most exciting series of my life. There was nothing like it before that. You were playing with such passion, so we gave it all we had, and the series turned out to be the best of its kind. I could say a lot more, but once again, thank you for organising this meeting.

I’d like to add this. I have three grandchildren, and they are half-Russian. My second grandchild, Nick, will make a very good player in time.

Vladimir Putin: We are glad to hear this. At that time, all the fans here regarded our hockey players – Yakushev, Shadrin, Kharlamov, and others – as national heroes. But, to be honest (and I won’t go against my conscience) that you guys were no less popular here than our players. People in Russia remember you to this day. This is true. Many sport lovers remember the names of all the Canadian players. And the memories of the series prompted us here in Russia to come out with a proposal to establish the Kontinental Ice Hockey League. The idea was to give a new impetus to the development of ice hockey. In my mind, ice hockey was starting to lose its popularity compared to other sports, when it only functioned within the national organisations in North America and here in Europe, and there was no chance to match forces on the continental scale.

Our Kontinental European Ice Hockey League is, in some ways, a weak rival for the NHL, but it is getting into high gear, and I am sure that eventually it will be a strong and healthy rival to the NHL. This is certain to enhance the popularity of ice hockey. I am sure that you guys, who have done so much for world hockey, will back us on that. Thank you for coming. This in itself is also a good incentive for the development of this fine sport.

Phil Esposito (speaking Russian): Spasibo (Thank you).