Dubai: The legendary Ukrainian pole vault coach Vitaly Petrov has hailed the idea of holding training camps for UAE School Olympic students at an early age.
Stressing that all sporting institutions to combine their efforts to find and hone talents continually, Petrov insisted that the singular objective of winning an Olympic medal would stand out as the defining moment in the career of any athlete.
Earlier this month, the UAE National Olympic Committee (UAE NOC) sent its first batch of 82 athletes to Rome and Formia in Italy for an advanced coaching camp. The athletes were selected from four sporting disciplines, namely archery, shooting, fencing and athletics. The camp will conclude on August 24.
Born in January, 1938, in Donetsk, Petrov is known for training some of the most famous pole vaulters in the world of athletics including the legendary Sergey Bubka, Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia and Giuseppe Gibilisco of Italy, all of whom went on to win world titles and set global records.
Now 76, Petrov, who is a specialised coach at the Centre of Olympic Preparation (COP) in Formia, explained how starting at an early age can help athletes and nations achieve glory on the international stage.
Offering the youngsters useful tips, Petrov met up with the UAE School Olympic Games athletes at the COP after a training session.
“Continue with your efforts as aspirations and objectives can only be achieved through determination, perseverance and will. The School Olympics is a unique manner for tapping talent and I am glad that you have been given such a wonderful opportunity to excel from this young age,” the Ukrainian coach said.
“This centre has some of the best experts in the field and having you all at this young age here will have a positive bearing on you all and will pay dividends later on.”
Adding that training of athletes is a huge challenge, Petrov said: “I always view the young athlete as an Olympic champion on first consideration. Self-confidence is the most important factor in achieving objectives and goals.
“Athletes must be aware of the real challenge ahead and accept the change that will occur in their lives such as winning medals. It isn’t always the coach who is responsible for grooming champs, as those would-be champs must take steps towards excellence in order to make the difference.”
With the training camp now reaching the midway stage, the panel of experts has increased the fitness and training sessions of the young athletes in Italy. Due attention is also being paid to their diet and daily timetable.
Abdullah Ahmad Al Tunaiji, the athletics supervisor for boys, said: “The training programme is utilised optimally after students have been given a day off for entertainment to remove stress and renew their vigour and strength.”
Dr Mohammad Ebrahim Bilal, archery supervisor, was delighted with the students’ response to the camps. “This is the most crucial phase for these youngsters and this will have a positive bearing and pay dividends later, but the entire process requires more effort and concentration,” Bilal said.
