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Yuri Davydov, organizer of the “Art-football” festival and captain of the Russian team, makes a summary of the tournament, explains the difference between amateur and professional football and describes the prospects of football-music-charity project. They are brilliant!
- This year more than 500 people from 16 countries came to Moscow for “Art-football”. Could you describe a typical art-footballer.
- This is me (smile). To be serious this is a man whose child’s dream to take part in a world cup suddenly came true. But we can say this not only about artists and musicians but also about all the people who keep playing football irrespective of the age.
- But there is a big difference between a world cup for builders or railway workers and “Art-football”.
- We try to respect the criteria of selection. Art-football philosophy supposes that people are more interested to see their idols to loose than to watch some strangers to win.
- “Art-football” has another aspect – charity.
- All the Festivals are held within the framework of the charity campaign “Under the Flag of Kindness”. We have never drawn the attention of the participants to this side of “Art-football” but they plan their stay in Moscow thinking about visits to orphanages. This year almost all the teams came to see children.
- Let’s make sport summary of “Art-football”. Did Romania deserve to win?
- With no doubts. At every championship Romanians climbed higher and higher until they won the title. But do not forget that it is easier to win once than to keep on the top.
- Are you satisfied with the Russia’s 3d place?
- Completely. We played good matches and no victory was easy. We managed to beat Brazil and this is the happiest football souvenir of the tournament for me.
- What is more important at “Art-football” – art or football?
- Once we spoke about it with the heads of all the teams. And it was Adi Coren from Israel who put the end to the debate. He asked: “Which part is bigger on the “Art-football” logo – art or football? Art is big, football is small. That is the answer”. And everybody agreed with him. Our football is an amateur one but our art is professional.
- This year Iran, Italy and Kazakhstan made their debuts at “Art-football”. Your appreciation.
- That was a success. We met the Kazakh team previously and knew about their possibilities. And we were pleased with Italy’s football and songs while Iran became an exotic pearl of the Festival.
- Before the start of the Festival there was anxiety that there could be troubles between Israeli and Iranians due to bad relations between their countries.
- Thank God, they lived 10 days under the same roof and did not say a single bad word to each other! On the contrary their relations were friendly and warm. I remember Adi Coren’s speech during Iran’s concert in Sokolniki park. He said: “We stay here, on this stage, to show our children that football and music can unite peoples when the politicians are unable to find an agreement”.
- Neither there were no scandals on football fields.
- Fair-play was one of the main items of the Festival. First, we kept on controlling that all the teams follow the Regulations as about eligibility of players. Second, referees were given instruction to halt tough play. Third, all the teams signed the Memorandum of Fair play before the start of the championship. As a result no serious injuries were recorded. We are going to move in the same direction until the day when everybody will understand that artistic football is different from professional one.
- Can you draw the results of music contest?
- We chose a very good concert stage. Sokolnikii park is an ideal place. Next year the concerts will take place there. Unfortunately I could not see all the programs but I know that the artistic level was very high.
- 17 seriously ill children received medical certificates guaranteeing payment of expensive treatment. Is it a success?
- Sure! This is one of the most important results of the “Art-football” as an integral part of “Under the Flag of Kindness!” campaign. Natalya Davydova made a good job as head of “Under the Flag of Kindness!” Foundation. And I am very glad that all the teams took part in charity events with the same enthusiasm they played football or sang their songs.
- What about “Art-football”-2015?
- Everybody can start preparations! The Moscow government believe “Art-football” to be a necessary project for Russia which is going to organize the FIFA World Cup in 2018.
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