Tudor Casapu
Interview with Tudor Casapu, President Weightlifting Federation of Moldova, 1992 Olympic champion, Colonel of the police -Situation in weightlifting today is very hard, as currently in all sports in Moldova. Unfortunately Republic of Moldova belongs to one of the poorest countries in Europe where sport financing is short. The global financial and economic crisis of the last year did not make our situation easier.
There are old traditions in weightlifting in Moldova. Our athletes won lot of titles during the last 20 years. Every year new young lifters emerge, some of them develop quickly, but it is sad to conclude, that we can't cover normal conditions for them in training and in life and finally we loose them. Federation where enthusiasts of weightlifting work tries to do all the best, but. This year we managed to open two specialized sport halls in Rautel (native village of the world champion Vadim Vacarciuc) and Singerei, but we could equip them only with two old set of barbells. Can you imagine how long 40-50 boys and girls must wait in row for a single attempt? In Moldova we have only 4 (four) modern Eleiko sets, the others were manufactured many years ago in the Soviet Union. All specialists know well it is preferable to get prepared for the competitions using the same barbell which will be used there. - How many lifters will represent Moldova in Korea at the World Championship? - Our team will consist only from 3 lifters, Alexandr Dudoglo, Anatol Chiricu and Eugen Bratan.They all prepare at home without proper conditions. Ministry of Youth and Sport (during the last year - three times Head of the Moldovan sports changed), found sources only for air tickets to Korea, no finance for preparation sessions and trainings. Everybody prepares at home. We have no physician, physiotherapeutist or even masseur for the team, no specialist to advice special diet individually for every sportsmen. Possibilities to visit a sauna and swimming pool appear very rarely, not upon necessity. Everybody gets medical assistance in ambulatories (polyclinics) where they live, where nobody takes in account that they are sportsmen and they do not even know about prohibited lists. Personal coaches usually can't accompany their lifters.Top athletes get a state stipendium in maximum amount up to USD 300-500 monthly. This money is not enough for the proper nutrition and they feel discomfort also because stipendiums change every year, they are not appointed for the four year Olympic circle basis. For the participation in European youth championship in Israel this summer we lent money to send our small team. Thanks to Leonid Volneanschi, Honorary President of the Federation we managed to send some athletes. He always assists us, but unfortunately he is alone, there are no more sponsors. State financing is insufficient to develop weightlifting in Moldova. - Under such poor circumstances what are your expectations? - Despite everyday troubles we win some medals in the different championships every year. We have a lot of young talents, and we believe that sometime everything here changes for good and we will have new world and Olympic medalists or even champions.
Serghei Donets
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