8 April 2006
Nemov Returns to Gymnastics:
Alexei Nemov’s “Legends of Sports” Show

Moscow, RUSSIA: Three-time Olympic champion Alexei Nemov has set a date and started advertising around the city of Moscow for his “never seen before in Russia” gymnastics gala. In an interview withthe newspaper Izvestia last November, Nemov announced his plan for a gymnastics show in which he wanted to create a exciting and entertaining performance of artistic gymnasts, rhythmic gymnasts, trampolinists, and acrobatics.

Splashed on billboards around the city along with a picture of Nemov and his Olympic medals are the names of many world famous gymnasts: Irina Chaschina, Alina Kabaeva, Aleksei Bondarenko, Yuri Chechi; with Yelena Zamolodchikova, Anna Pavlova, Nastia Liukin, Oksana Chusovitina. Nemov also said that there will be circus, theatrical and even martial arts numbers within his show. Asked, if he would be performing, Nemov replied “of course.”

After stepping away from competitive gymnastics, Nemov has started supporting sports in Russia. Acting like an “ambassador” of sports, Nemov has joined with Reebok to organize this gymnastics show in a way to attract more sponsors and financial investment, to prove that gymnastics is not just a beautiful sport, but a necessary one. Bringing out all the glitter, bells and whistles usually thought of for skating only, Nemov hopes to help bring both fans and finances back into the sport.

According to Gazette of Russia, Nemov is also working with the Russian fitness chain World Class to help reinvigorate physical education. Thinking back to his childhood, “where every sports gym had mats, ropes, and bars,” he will participate in the upcoming World Class International Fitness Conference which is being held 14 - 16 April at Moscow’s Olympic Stadium. The conference will provide master classes to physical education teachers and sports instructors, with the intent to raise the overall health level of Russian children-“…not so that our children will be able to vault over a horse, but just move and breathe correctly,”Nemov commented.

Legends of Sports will be held on Wednesday, 17 May, at the Multi-Sports Complex, Luzhniki. Make sure to look back for The All Around’s exclusive report on this unique show!

- K. T.