That Vladimir Putin confirmed on Saturday that he is running for re-election as president hardly came as a shock to many. Towards the election campaign, he has assembled a star team of celebrities, politicians and athletes who will work for his election victory. Jelena Välbe and former Olympic champion Aleksandr Legkov are among the names joining the “Putin team” ahead of the presidential election, according to Izvestija. It happens shortly after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed Russian athletes to participate in the Olympics under a number of neutrality requirements. – It is a rare type of winner who wins in any competition. And now they openly support the country’s president, writes Veronika Stepanova in a long Instagram post. The Russian cross-country runner, who has long been open about his support for Putin, hails the entry of the two sports personalities into the “Putin team”. In the Instagram picture, she poses in front of a calendar with a picture of Putin. Reacts: – It’s sick – Today I’m proud to be a skier, because I have such leaders and former teammates. And because Russia has a president like Putin. We are right, we are stronger and we will definitely win, writes Stepanova. The team of athletes and other well-known Russian names will, among other things, run an election campaign and help collect signatures in support of Putin in the election. These are some of the names of the “Vladimir Putin team” Yelena Välbe – president of the Russian Ski Federation Aleksandr Legkov – cross-country skier (Olympic champion) Sergej Karjakin – chess player Nikita Nagornyj – gymnast (Olympic champion) Tatjana Navka – figure skater (former Olympic champion and world champion) and married to Putin’s press spokesman Dmitry Peskov Polina Gagarina – artist and songwriter (participated in Eurovision for Russia in 2015) Artem Zjoga – Russian military officer and politician Najezjda Babkina – artist Larisa Dolina – artist and actor Stas Mikhailov – artist and songwriter Nikita Mikhalkov – filmmaker and actor Zakhar Prilepin – writer and politician – Välbe is a rare case of a great athlete who became a great leader. Those with at least a little brain understand that the revival of Russian cross-country skiing is primarily due to her. Legkov has been our informal captain and leader in many years. He shows how you have to work to win both on skiing and in life, writes Stepanova. The powerful cross-country president has previously been involved in politics through Putin’s United Russia party. As recently as 2021, she ran for a seat in the Russian parliament, but ended up withdrawing her candidacy. – I don’t really care what the Russians are up to. It’s clear that it’s sick, everything to do with war and Putin, but I don’t spend energy on it, says Calle Halfvarsson. Profiles stand up for Putin He came fourth in the final distance during the World Cup in Trondheim, where Välbe became World Cup queen in 1997. A final decision has still not been made on whether the Russians will be welcomed to the World Cup at the same venue in 14 months’ time. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo responded like this after his third straight win at home: – I haven’t realized that, but I don’t have a different point of view than I’ve had all along. We just have to deal with what FIS makes a decision on eventually, and then we’ll see what happens. Olympic gymnastics champion Nikita Nagornyj and former Eurovision contestant Polina Gagarina are among the others on the list. So is chess player Sergej Karjakin. The Russian presidential election will be held from 15 to 17 March 2024.
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Jelena Välbe and former Olympic champion Aleksandr Legkov join “Putin’s team” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
