The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : War and peace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 11, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Olympic Games

War and peace

— Photo: AP

UNITED WE STAND: Russia’s Natalia Paderina and Georgia’s Nino Salukvadze during the medal ceremony.

BEIJING: Their countries may be in a conflict, but a Russian and a Georgian shared a podium and an embrace after winning Olympic medals on Sunday.

A day after Georgian athletes were considering leaving due to violence back home, Nino Salukvadze won the country’s first medal of the Beijing Games — a bronze — in the women’s 10m air pistol. Russia’s Natalia Paderina took the silver.

After the medal ceremony, Salukvadze put her arm around Paderina and the two posed together for photographs.

Paderina then gave Salukvadze a kiss on the cheek.

“This medal is good for Georgia, especially during times like this,” Salukvadze said. “I was very nervous today. It’s very difficult for my people.”

Staying

The Georgian government has decided to keep its 35-member team at the Olympics, although the competitors have been understandably distracted by recent events.

A team spokesman said the Georgian athletes were ready to leave the Olympics if it would help, but the International Olympic Committee announced that both the Georgian and Russian teams had decided to remain in Beijing.

Georgia has now won 13 Olympic medals, including a pair of golds in Athens in 2004. This was the country’s first shooting medal.

“It’s very difficult for us as Georgians because of everything that’s going on at home. It was nice that Natalia Paderina came up to me and gave me a handshake,” Salukvadze said. “Yesterday (Saturday) I thought the Georgian Olympic team might withdraw.” — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport