Vitali Klitschko told "DELO" about politics, about plans in business and life in general at the current, "turning point" stage. Vitali Klitschko is a novice in politics. He still has to master the rules of local fights, where final knockouts almost never happen, and finishing off a fallen opponent, as a rule, is not hindered by any referee. In an interview with "DELO" last week, Vitali Klitschko said that he is negotiating with representatives of political forces supporting progressive democratic transformations in Ukraine: "I receive many offers. I am considering them." A few days later he announced that he was ready to lead the bloc of parties "Reforms and Order" and "Pora"... \n\t \n \n"When the bloc 'PRP-Pora' was formed, I realized that this particular bloc is close to me in perception and in spirit. This is a team of professionals, honest people, untainted by corruption scandals. I am confident that these people will be able to realize their strengths and knowledge so that life in Ukraine becomes better," Vitali explained his opinion. \n \nAt the same time, the decision made is not final – the world champion still has not decided on his participation in the Kyiv mayoral elections. However, that is what attracts him most. "I could maximally realize these contacts at the level of local self-government, and therefore the priority for me is the city elections," said Klitschko. \n \n– How ready are you to fight for the position of head of Kyiv? \n \n– I am ready! If I answer more openly, I will say that sport gave me the opportunity to see the world much wider than it is. It also gave me the opportunity to see how laws function in the West, by what principles people live in developed countries of the world. I have very good contacts with mayors of capitals of various countries and cities – Hamburg, Berlin, New York, Los Angeles. When I come to my homeland, what immediately catches my eye is what needs to be changed. I am confident that Ukrainians deserve a better life, a life at the level of world standards. There are 50 million of us, and it is very hurtful for me to see that elementary things that successfully function in the West still do not work here, and I know how to implement them using Kyiv as an example. \n \n– So will you run for Kyiv mayor? \n \n– I will definitely tell you about this, but a little later, not now. \n \n– How comfortable do you feel in the political environment? Sport is also a kind of politics, but unlike sport it has different laws… \n \n– You know, I am aware of these peculiarities. Ukrainian politics works by completely different rules, unfortunately, not similar to those that operate in the West. Here they play not by the fairest rules and use not the fairest methods. Here, engaging in politics often implies smearing opponents and rivals with dirt so that against that background one looks clean oneself. I was engaged in sport for a long time, which provides for clear rules. In Ukrainian politics, these rules are constantly changing and being adjusted. And sometimes they are completely absent… You know perfectly well that as soon as reports appeared that Vitali Klitschko had ended his sports career and was going to engage in politics – immediately a huge number of people appeared, practicing various unflattering expressions. One of my comrades explained it to me this way: "Welcome to politics." \n \n \n \nKlitschko on business \n \n \n– They say that you have your own nightclubs, restaurants, etc. all over Kyiv. What type of business actually belongs to you in Kyiv and what abroad? \n \n– Yes, sometimes I feel like I'm in the tale of "Marquis Carabas." The moment I appear at a construction site, that project automatically and undoubtedly belongs to the Klitschko brothers. To my surprise, every time I learn about the ownership of some nightclubs, restaurants, shops. But lately my most important business has been sport. Yes, Vladimir and I are engaged in business, we have created a promotional company. We have a large number of partners and major global firms with which we work and cooperate. \n \n– What project are you running right now? \n \n– Right now I am trying to realize my long-standing dream and create a network of inexpensive sports complexes, where the package of services will cost not a thousand dollars, but only 30. I want to make it so that by paying a little money, the Ukrainian consumer receives the same package of services that visitors of elite sports clubs receive. \n \n– What functions do you perform in this project? \n \n– I have a lot of contacts and connections, I help people interested in implementing the project. I hope it will become useful on an all-Ukrainian scale. Right now we are conducting negotiations with the world's largest company – "Gold's Gym," which will be engaged in this important and necessary matter. \n \n– Who finances this project? \n \n– It is financed by banks and investors. Such sports complexes function perfectly abroad. This concept can quite well work and be in demand here in Ukraine as well. And I will try to do everything in my power to achieve this goal. If everything goes well, if all participants agree and find common points of contact, the project will start operating in 6 months. I don't want to talk about this idea as something in the future. I would very much like to meet with you in the very near future and tell you how it is already functioning. \n \n– We will hope that it will be so. What charitable events are you currently paying attention to? \n \n– Vladimir and I have always been active members of society and have been engaged in charitable work for more than 10 years. At first our fund was called "Sport – 21st Century," then it grew into the "Klitschko Brothers Fund." We participate in many charitable events and special projects. Right now we are trying to promote the revival of Ukrainian boxing among children. To great regret, sports sections are in a state of complete decline, funding is insufficient, equipment is 20 years old. We take patronage over sports schools, create the necessary conditions for their revival and development, hold youth sports tournaments, motivate the kids. We meet with young athletes, tell and explain to them what needs to be done to achieve their goals, both life goals and sports goals. \n \n \n \nKlitschko on boxing \n \n \n– What were your fees in boxing? \n \n– Fees in professional boxing are very high. Spectators see one boxer in the ring, but behind him stand another 30-40 people who do everything to make this fight happen, and they all also have a share in the won sum. My maximum prize fund was supposed to be 8 million dollars, for the fight with Hasim Rahman. \n \n– Your first coach Vladimir Zolotarev once told me that after finishing a sports career an absolutely new life begins. And few after such a trauma find the strength to find a "new" self. Do you feel such potential in yourself? \n \n– My sports career is over. And if someone thinks that I will lie on the couch and think about what to do – that's not about me. All my time is scheduled by the minute, I am engaged in many projects: social, public. On top of all that, I am still studying. And honestly, 24 hours a day is simply not enough for me. In sport I achieved all the goals I set for myself and I am confident that I will be able to realize myself after sport. I do not stop setting new goals for myself and do everything possible to achieve them. \n \n– You said that you are studying. Have you decided to get another education? \n \n– I am always learning something in life. If a person stops learning, he doesn't just stop, he falls behind. In fact, I am studying the Ukrainian language. I hope that very soon I will be able to communicate with you in this beautiful language. I speak German, English, and Russian, but to master Ukrainian well there wasn't enough of a sufficient communication environment. \n \n– Do you have your own idol in boxing? Who? And why? \n \n– At every age a person has their own idol. Many years ago Evander Holyfield was one of those heavyweights who stood at the top. When I was a boy, I admired this boxer and strove to be like him. I think I succeeded. \n \n \n \nKlitschko's dreams \n \n \n– If you hadn't become a boxer, which sport would you have preferred? \n \n– I never thought that I had to become a professional athlete. I just went to a sports section. It was only after I won the championship of the section, then the district, the city, the republic, the Soviet Union, the European championship, the world championship… Only after that did I ask myself the question about professional sport. I set new goals for myself and over time achieved them too. I never thought or dreamed about becoming an athlete. \n \n– And what did you dream about? \n \n– I wanted to become a pilot, maybe a military man (Vitali's father was a serviceman. – "DELO"). I partially realized my dreams while serving in the army, and retired with the rank of captain. Nevertheless, I am grateful to sport, I discovered a world much wider than I could have imagined. \n \n– And still, what sports besides boxing are you fond of? \n \n– I prefer active sports: I play basketball, volleyball, water sports, I like to play chess. I can even boast that I held out for 31 moves against Garry Kasparov and even managed to put him in "check," though he put me in "checkmate" (laughs), but nevertheless, not losing from the first move to such a great grandmaster – that is already a feat. \n \n– Training for some time in the USA, you surely communicated with Ukrainian athletes who live and work there. Did you attend "Los Angeles Lakers" games? \n \n– Yes, I often went to Medvedenko's games, sometimes met with Andriy Shevchenko. I have to cross paths with very many guys. I am very glad that in many countries Ukraine is known by the achievements of those athletes who compete for our country. And representatives of sport, going beyond the borders of our state, are automatically ambassadors of Ukraine. \n \n– Vitali, do you not have a desire to take up coaching? After all, you have enormous experience that you can pass on to the younger generation. \n \n– I will answer you this way: it is not necessary to be a good coach while being an excellent athlete. We help kids reach their peaks. And this is my goal. I do not set myself the goal of being a coach, I cannot even imagine myself in this role and I don't think that I will ever change my opinion. \n \n– How do you assess the one-year work of the new government in the field of sports? \n \n– It is impossible to do something today and get it tomorrow. Sport is long-term investment. Investment in sport yields its shoots in a year, two, three… Kids must master certain stages, time must pass, and only then will there be a result. I see how much attention is being paid to sports sections for their restoration, and I hope that our children will live in a better "sporting" Ukraine. \n \n– The candidacy of Anatoliy Kinakh for the post of president of the Boxing Federation of Ukraine has almost been approved. Are you personally acquainted with him? \n \n– Yes. \n \n– Do you think this person, who also practiced boxing in the past, will be able to bring something new and better to the development of this sport in Ukraine? \n \n– If such a respected person as Anatoliy Kinakh heads the Boxing Federation, this will indicate that the government is paying attention to boxing, and I am confident that Anatoliy Kyrylovych has all the possibilities to give a new impetus to the development of both the Federation itself and boxing. \n \n– Abroad, professional boxing develops at the expense of television. What does our country lack to raise the rating of Ukrainian boxers on the world arena? \n \n– Television is a component of the economy, and the stronger the economic potential of the country, the more powerful television will become, the more investment will increase in one or another sport. We simply need to raise our economy. \n \n– You met with Metropolitan Vladimir, congratulated him on his jubilee, and your only request was expressed in the desire that it be His Beatitude Vladimir who baptizes your youngest son Maksym. Tell me, did the Metropolitan agree to fulfill your request? \n \n– Four years ago His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir baptized my eldest son Ehor, for me that was a huge honor. I was very happy for the attention from the metropolitan. I don't want to change the tradition of baptism. Therefore I turned with such a request to the metropolitan. And if His Beatitude Metropolitan Vladimir agreed, I would be simply happy. \n \nPrinted in the newspaper "DELO" No. 40 of December 13, 2005.