To me Alexander Ivanovich Sokolov with the request has addressed to transfer the European championship the next year as neither organizational, nor financially it could not pull it. (A.I.Sokolov – the president of the European committee on a pyramid, the vice-president of the International committee on a pyramid, the vice-president of the Belarus association of billiard sports. A comment ред.) I have offered the help, but for большего conveniences and from rational reasons have decided to spend the championship not in Minsk, and in Kaliningrad, at me in the homeland. Here both friends, and colleagues who will always support, and geographically Kaliningrad very conveniently is located for foreigners. The basic loading has laid down on МКП with support of the Sokolov. Have joined both Moscow and Kaliningrad ФБС which knowingly are considered as one of the strongest in Russia. At us and the judge of the higher class – they judged both the international tournaments, and cups of Baltic, the European championships and the world, even to Paris left. We have exposed 6 judges, and could and completely all judicial brigade.

 

Championship carrying out has managed in the sum more than $80.000. Sponsors and partners have very much helped. From known to Russians – company "Nemirov" with which owner I had very much good relations, and Tyumen «ЮТэйр». The others - калининградцы. It is my native land, I knew that all will support me – both the mayor, and the governor, both business. The mayor and the chairman of the City Council even have considered obligatory presence at opening ceremony. On the organisation, perhaps, it is the best championship though the command from 7 persons was engaged in all, I – the eighth. «Руптур» has only given tables. All the rest – from work with the press before carrying out of a final banquet – has laid down on «the eight of active workers». It is an original record. I did not meet still the championships organised by so small command at such high level.

Important role mass-media have played. Thanks the general information sponsor – the Kaliningrad broadcasting company "Cascade" which has provided articles in newspapers, radio-rollers and interview on TV. The Russian newspaper has given considerable support. Soon there is a licence film from the championship.

 

For the first time there has arrived Sandman, and it would be desirable to believe that it will be an incitement to billiards development as a whole, will help with search of compromises. We have spent 6 hours behind the conversation, flowing that to shout and dispute, in a friendly chat. But the meeting was productive and useful to both parties: have drawn conclusions on prospects of cooperation with WCBS, have decided that the world-2004 Championship will pass on December, 7-11th in Moscow. I have stated Sandmanu, as to president WCBS, all our reasons and claims. We do not accept billiards development in the world – we have departed back for 6 years!

For Youthful Olympic Igrah-98 it has been declared that billiards just about becomes a member of an Olympic family. To me it is deeply indifferent, what of kinds will be ranked, the main thing – the fact of hit of billiards abreast Olympic kinds of sports.

 

The pyramid future depends on us. In 2001 I acted in Amsterdam before members of the European billiard congress. Then they have unanimously voted that Russian billiards should be separate – the fourth – a direction. There are all documents these are confirming. Very much it would be desirable to believe that on games in Duisburg the pyramid will be presented to 2005, but in this question we can hope only for ourselves. It is necessary to hold the European championships and the world, интерконтинентальные the championships in which will be involved both young men, and women. After all such rapid development of billiards as in Russia, is not present in one point of a planet. At us serious people – its judges from one Moscow comes as much, how many from all Belarus. And in one country members of the government so much the free time does not devote to this game. For us billiards – a cultural heritage which we store, we increase greatly and we develop. At us Bulgarians, Romanians already play. Mongols, the Chineses, all allies and neighbours of the former USSR will soon play . And there we will go to attach to game of the USA, Canada, Mexico, Africa. Everywhere our people are – Russian, Ukrainians. And we will move ahead.

For me the European championship is finished, but starts the World championship. And it is important to make everything that this tournament became exclusive action of a highest level, for all professionals and it is simple fans of billiards.

 

                                                                                                                                                  The material was for printing prepared by Ekaterina Solovetsky