On November 21 it accepted congratulations on the occasion of the 50 anniversary in Moscow. Next day from a place of the honor  guest watched fights of traditional tournament on Greco-Roman wrestling of memory of Oleg Karavayev in Minsk.

Mikhail Mamiashvili, the Olympic champion of Seoul and the triple world champion, nowadays he is a president of federation of wrestling of Russia. During Oleg Karavayev's memorial the correspondent of "UNION" communicated to the glorified wrestler.

Mikhail Geraziyevich, probably, plainly to celebrate birthday and weren't in time?

Mikhail Mamiashvili: Daulet Turlykhanov was born for three days before me. Therefore to it as to the senior, the right to call friends on anniversary earlier was given. I plan it to make on December 8.

Tournament of memory of Oleg Karavayev is how important for the Russian national team?

Mikhail Mamiashvili: Now there is a serious review. One team at us departed to Azerbaijan to wrestling, the second - to Brazil. And we brought part of children to Minsk. And I can't tell that it is any second or third numbers. Prize-winner of Olympic Games, winner of the World Cup, prize-winner of the European championship... Generally, in all weight categories we exposed far not whipping boys. Before final fights I brought together the wrestlers and told them: "For each of you this tournament - chance to prove the solvency and to overcome one more step on a way to structure of an Olympic team". And on a carpet they clung teeth. I think, 60-70 percent of these wrestlers will appear in Russian national team on Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In February executive committee the IOC recommended to exclude wrestling from the program of Games. Triple Olympic champion Aleksandr Karelin told recently that apprehended that decision as a personal insult. And you?

Mikhail Mamiashvili: I with Alexander Aleksandrovich in this question am completely solidary. The benefit, common sense I prevailed, and we managed to defend their historical right to be in the Olympic family for wrestlers. I will note, very big role in the positive solution of a question was played by the president of Russia. Very much support of the world sports community and friendly contacts with key federations, in particular - with yours helped. The head of the Belarusian federation of wrestling Yury Chizh took an uncompromising and consecutive position.

Shortly after over wrestling the sword of Damocles of an exception of the Olympic program hung, rules were revised. And many experts agree in opinion that the sport became more attractive to fans.

Mikhail Mamiashvili: We could return to the shortest terms to those rules which were once and were pleasant to the audience. And, of course, wrestling is now much more interesting. Format of fights such is that well prepared technically, tactically and physically the athlete can show the best qualities. On a carpet there is dynamics, dramatic nature. Namely it first of all to liking to fans.

Whether you are happy with at what level there is a cooperation with the Belarusian federation of wrestling?

Mikhail Mamiashvili: It - our most important strategic partner. Anatoly Beloglazov trains the national team of Belarus on free-style wrestling. Besides, we fruitfully exchange experience, carrying out joint training process. The Russian wrestlers constantly are engaged in "Flocks", your athletes for quite some time now started coming on collecting to Russia that, by the way, to other teams is inaccessible. Strong grow among the strong.

Now wrestling in Belarus goes through difficult times. And representatives of the Greek-Roman style, and "wrestlers" remained without medals on the last Olympic Games in London...

Mikhail Mamiashvili: In Soviet period, competing with Russians, Armenians, Georgians, Belarus delegated to USSR national team structure on 5 athletes. Igor Kanygin, Mikhail Prokudin, Anatoly Fedorenko is some surnames. At the Belarusian wrestling very deep traditions. And in sovereign history there were many victories. Now the trainer's staff led by excellent expert Kamandar Madzhidov updates structure. Process this painful, but will yield over time the fruits. Tournament of memory of Oleg Karavayev, in particular, showed that Greco-Roman wrestling is in Belarus on the right track. Your wrestlers appeared in very serious subgroup. At a preliminary stage they had to compete to strong Poles, Ukrainians and Kazakhstan citizens, but they surely reached the final. And with Belarusians it was necessary to a Russian team hardly.

Text: Yury Bakerenko