The fund of an Olympic champion Alina Kabayeva arranged a wonderful festival for young rhythmic gymnastics fans. The 2nd “Alina” International Festival took place in the Russian capital. The geography of the colorful show was variegated: Moscow, Baku, Tashkent, Kazan, Astana, Gelenjik, Volgograd, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Minsk, Tskhinvali… Festival became a present for orphan children, handicapped children, as well as children from unhappy families, boarding schools and children’s homes – more than three thousand people gathered at the “Rossia” State Central Concert Hall.

The evening’s presenters Dmitriy Guberniyev and Masha Pestunova mentioned that the very first Russian Championship – Leningrad Championship – was held on April of 1941, 2 month prior to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. “The war struck all the fields of the peaceful life, including rhythmic gymnastics. The development of this beautiful sports discipline had stopped in our country. But the people withstood and managed to win. And already in 1948, the large-scale Championship of the USSR, which cleared the way for all the next generations, took place.”

Young “sportswomen and beauties” with their delicate fine figures easily and gracefully executed complicated exercises in the floodlights’ beams. And a covey of younger girls – from primary groups – were amusingly mincing along the gymnastics floor demonstrating their first achievements. The winners of “Novaya Volna” (New Wave) children’s contest and variety stars were responsible for the festival’s musical accompaniment. Alina Kabayeva and little gymnasts were supported by Valeriya, Sergey Mazayev, Dima Bilan, Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Sergey Lazarev, “A-studio”. And the boys from Moscow and Novosibirsk headed by the soloist, a three time World Champion in boys rhythmic gymnastics Aleksander Buklov, appeared to the accompaniment of the well-known “Smuglyanka” performed by the Academic song and dance ensemble of the Russian Army named after Aleksandrov. The festival came to the end with the splendid performance of girls from the Azerbaijani group team in rhythmic gymnastics.

“My dream has come true. It was my dream to arrange a festival in rhythmic gymnastics where little gymnasts could have demonstrated their talents and that nobody cared about the judges’ points, simply getting pleasure from their favorite job and communication with their friends. Go ahead! Go to new accomplishments! For yourself, for the sake of great Russia!” Alina Kabayeva said from the stage. The festival’s organizer also performed before the spectators first time for the last three years. The audience gave her a standing ovation.

“Ekho planeti” journal