 |
 Natalia Vodianova, world-famous model, philanthropist and Sochi 2014 Ambassador at an event at Russia House to present the world's first international Olympic university in Sochi. (CARMINE MARINELLI) |
Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova has caught the Olympic bug.
While the Gorky-born beauty may seem the least likely person to join International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel and swimming great Alexander Popov - a four time Olympic medalist - at a roundtable discussion Thursday on Olympic management at Sochi House, the enthusiastic model was out to prove she was more than a pretty face.
"Its a big responsibility," said the Sochi 2014 ambassador about hosting an Olympics. "If we can have the same spirit in Russia that they did (in Vancouver), it will really succeed. Seeing this in Canada happening now, I'm really excited for Sochi. Being a part of it is incredible."
The biggest legacy the London resident envisions for Russia when it hosts the Games will be in accessibility for the disabled, which she is already striving to improve through her charity work.
At the roundtable Vodianova was introduced as the "student" among her more experienced peers - exactly the type of budding officials Russia hopes to attract when it opens the first International Olympic University in Sochi.
The facility is focused on training a generation of athletes, policymakers, managers and organizers about the ins and outs of running a global event by building off learned best practices.
|
But the panelists seemed to have a tough time coming up with concrete examples of what made an Olympiad successful, at least not those typically learned in a classroom.
"To me it's about two things, passion and love," said Fasel, originally a dentist without business experience when he started taking on executive hockey positions in Switzerland. "I had no idea about management. I was just learning by the day. I had nothing but love, so I hope young people use the opportunity to go to this Olympic university."
Vodianova said there was a lot to learn from previous Games organizers.
"In Canada you have people from Australia and other places teaching them how to do it. In Russia they will come and teach us."