Published: 24 March, 2008, 17:49
Edited: 24 March, 2008, 17:49
Russia has set itself the goal of winning 38 golds at the Beijing Olympics, which get underway in less than five months’ time. If that target is reached, it would be Russia's best-ever tally.
Russia has always battled it out for top spot in the medal table at the Olympics, and the Beijing games are likely to be no exception.
A total of 92 medals, including 27 golds were won four years ago in Athens, but Vyacheslav Fetisov, Russia’s Sports Minister is hoping for even more.
“Our aim is to win 38 golds in Beijing. Experts have sat down and tried to calculate how many events our athletes have a chance of winning. Then again this is the Olympics, so there will always be shocks and surprises,” he said.
The Americans have topped the medal tables for the last six games. Vitaly Smirnov, a member of the International Olympic Committee, believes it'll be difficult to catch them, but he sees no reason, why Russia can't beat the Chinese into second.
“Russia has always been a balanced Olympic team, performing well in practically all events, unlike the Americans, who win most of their medals in swimming and athletics, or the Chinese who are incredibly successful at gymnastics, diving and table tennis,” he believes.
In Athens the Americans won over half their 36 gold medals in just these two sports, with just 16 coming in the other 26 sports. Russia's medals were balanced throughout all events, their 27 golds coming in 11 different events.
Russia will have a strong team for the Beijing games, with practically all the gold medal winners set to defend their titles. Of course there are also new stars anxiously waiting to make a name for themselves on the world's biggest stage.
However, Smirnov believes it will take time to overtake the Americans with their well-developed mass sports system at the top of the medal tables.
In less than five months the Beijing Olympics get underway. If all goes according to plan – and Russia manage to win 38 golds – it would mean their best-ever performance as the Russian Federation.