MOSCOW (Shahid Ghumman): Paolo Zampolli, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy for global partnerships, has said that sports can reopen the doors of contact between Russia and the United States that politics closed.<\/p>\n
In an interview with the Russian news agency TASS, Paolo Zampolli said that support by President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin for friendly matches between the two countries’ prominent hockey players could prove an important beginning.<\/p>\n
He said the US and Russia possess extraordinary talent, history and mutual respect in hockey, but contacts through sports should not remain limited to hockey alone.<\/p>\n
The US special envoy also proposed a friendly match between the national football teams of Russia and the US. He said one match cannot end all political differences, but sports can certainly become a means of restarting mutual dialogue.<\/p>\n
Paolo Zampolli, supporting the full return of Russian athletes to international competitions with the Russian flag and national anthem, expressed hope that Russian athletes will be able to take part more broadly and fully in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.<\/p>\n
He said athletes should not be made a permanent substitute for political negotiations. The best champions always want to compete against the strongest rivals, so the absence of major athletes affects the importance of global competitions.<\/p>\n
He proposed setting up a joint coordination mechanism for US-Russia sports cooperation, holding a hockey series, arranging a friendly football match, restoring exchanges of young athletes and coaches, and making former champions goodwill ambassadors.<\/p>\n
Paolo Zampolli said his meeting with Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtyarev in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, was constructive and direct. The meeting discussed sports contacts, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and prospects for competitions between Russian and American athletes.<\/p>\n
The US envoy said that if meaningful talks take place and relevant institutions extend support, he is ready to come to Moscow. He also proposed a special match of former hockey champions of the US and Russia, coaching clinics and exchanges of young athletes.<\/p>\n
He made clear that all these proposals are still at an early stage and no team, date or venue has been officially confirmed, but these possibilities should be worked on seriously.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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