Russian Olympic team is looking for Cheburashka to come back

Who doesn't know Cheburashka in Russia? The hero of famous cartoons makes happy kids and adults for already several decades. Little plush fairy hero-toy with enormous ears and good eyes is or purely Russian origin, created by Edward Uspensky, the children's writer. However, a few people are aware that Cheburashka , as well as heroes 0 other five hundred Soviet cartoons, was destined not a difficult life.

In 1992, the American company Films by Jove (FBJ) has entered into a ten-year contract for distribution of 1259 cartoons outside - CIS, and in 1994 the term of the contract was extended for 30 years, having returned 712 cartoons as a compensation. Only now in Russia there appeared a person, who sincerely cares for our national property, it is Alisher Usmanov, the Director General director of "Gazprominvest holding". Now he is negotiating with FBJ to buy the remaining 547 cartoons, i.e., to regain the right for distribution throughout the world such films as "Cheburashka", Alenky Tsvetochek" (Small purple flower), "The Snow Queen", "Konek-Gorbunok", "Maugly", "Fairy Tale about Tsar Saltan."

The purchase of the  cartoons was widely discussed on TV and in publications, but nobody drew attention to the importance of this act for the Russian Olympic team. Cheburashka is not just a character beloved since childhood. It's the symbol of the Russian national Olympic team as well. At the last Olympic Games in Athens, he was everywhere: in a boat next to the rowers, near the fencing grounds, near gymnastics equipment, on the border of swimming pool, it was demonstrated  by our champions from the podium as the symbol of victory.

This charity action organized by Mr. Usmanov among other charity events, has found a sincerest response in the hearts of fencers. Indeed, Alisher Burkhanovich is first of all, the person, who assists the fencing not only in Russia, but throughout the world. Mr. Usmanov is the president of the Russian Federation of Fencing, the President of the European Confederation of Fencing, the founder of International Charity Found "For the Future of Fencing".

Our site reporters asked the Russian Olympians about their opinion.

Tatyana Logunova  (twice Olympic Champion): - “Many people remember the “Olympic Teddy Bear” the symbol of  Moscow Olympic Games in Moscow. But it was the symbol of the Olympic Games in general, not of the separate team, while in Athens, for the first time the Russian team had its individual symbol, Cheburashka. That good-natured character from our childhood helped us to win the Games. I think that the return of the heroes of the cartoons to the native country should be attended by the Russian government. But as it doesn't do so, it is very good that Alisher Burhanovich has taken up that mission."

Anna Sivkova  (the Olympic Champion): I think this is an excellent solution to make a fairy hero a symbol of our team.  It has brought good luck to many athletes and has become their talisman not only in sport competitions, but also in life. The return of the-is character back to the native country will a lot of joy to the Russian kids. We are looking forward to see you again, Cheburashka!

Oksana Ermakova  (twice Olympic Champion): "I really liked that talisman, and not only me. Many foreign athletes would like to touch it. The symbol turned out to be typically Russian, because any other animal - a bear, a fox, a wolf -live in other countries, and Cheburashka " if of purely Russian origin.

Karina Aznavuryan ( twice Olympic Champion): "I do not care a lot for any symbols, talismans, superstitions and I don’t trust horoscopes. However, my warmest memories are related with Cheburashka. I believe, for Alisher Usmanov  Cheburashka's return is not a political or a commercial action. In the first place, he does it for children. Anything done for the benefit our children is done for the God’s sake . As a mother, I am very happy that my child will be able to enjoy classic Russian cartoons on Children's TV channel. Our cartoons are the best in the world, the most friendly, beautiful and wise.

Alexey Yakimenko  (bronze winner in Olympic Games): - "Cheburashka" is a typical Russian character, somewhat mysterious, like everything that does not exist in nature and exclusive due to its origin. The Games in Athens were my first Olympic Games. When during the opening ceremony of Games, I waved Cheburashka to a TV camera, everyone noticed me and started to recognize. I am a patriot, and I welcome the return of our classical artworks to the native country. Russian cartoons should be the property of Russia. I think Usmanov's incentives are the same.

Stanislav Pozdnyakov (four-time Olympic champion): "Cheburashka is associated with my childhood memories. I love this character, it brings nothing but kindness and warmth. Russian cartoons, waiting for the return to their native land, used to be the classic animation films, that nursed several generations of the kid in the former Soviet Union and Russia. Someone should recover the mistakes made in the 1990-s, when some national property  was exported put of the country. The charity actions of a well-known benefactor Alisher  Usmanov’s is a sign of recovery of the nation in general. I am proud that the man who is so close to fencing returns joy to the Russian kids.