Summary of 2020: what the weirdest year of the decade has taught us

Hardly anyone would disagree that 2020 was a rather unusual and clearly not the easiest year. The editorial staff of “Championship” is no exception among those who had to “survive” on the battlefield. And now, when it seems that we can exhale and face 2021 with a calm soul (hopefully, it will be without such surprises), we decided to share with you our impressions of the passing year and plans for the new one. We believe in it!

Evgeny Slyusarenko, Editor-in-Chief

To make a long story short, this year has taught the editorial staff of “Championship” one unexpected skill that we could hardly have imagined a year ago that it would ever come in handy: how to talk about sports in the absence of sports itself. For three months, from mid-March to mid-July, we were participants in a global experiment: to report on the non-existent in an engaging way every day, seven times a week, several times an hour. The experience, of course, is useful, we passed the test, our readers didn’t leave us. But, I’ll be honest, I wouldn’t want to repeat such an experience in 2021 or ever again.

Vyacheslav Opakhin, Deputy Editor-in-Chief

The fierce 2020 taught us that everything is possible in this life. And if you’ve been waiting for Cyberpunk 2077, it’s already arrived.

I’ll never forget how in spring during the QR period I had to go to my parents by bicycle. Apart from the main purpose, 35 km round trip is not a bad workout. But we had to ride, covering our faces with a scarf, carrying a sanitizer in our backpack and all this through an empty city. When I met a runner wearing a mask, my only thought was: man, how (?!) do you manage to breathe in it and run? Then it turned out that everyone has to get used to breathing and running like that.

I would like to believe that the masks will make it to “Namedni” and will remain a symbol of one year. Because I made a wish to Santa Claus that in 2021 we would all return to the stadiums to get high from our favorite sports. Without masks, gloves and covids. Yes, so that you can hug again when your team scores a goal.

Evgeny Kustov, executive secretary, editor of “Autosport” department

I will hardly be original if I say that this year has taught me two main things. Firstly, to work almost permanently remotely, while trying to reconcile two cats at home and not letting them sleep on the keyboard. Secondly, I now know how I can generate topics for months if nothing happens in sports. I also know that it is possible to get a fine for violating self-isolation, that when leaving the house you should check not only your keys, wallet and phone, and that having a visa and tickets to Germany is not a guarantee of a trip.

Hrant Getadarian, editor of “Football” department

Life teaches us nothing. The year proved that the main strength of a man is his knowledge and professionalism. It has shown that invisible to the eye phenomena become the determining factor of life. I would like to see more people who do good. Let this scholia be read as a toast, but otherwise there is no other way.

Alexander Rozhkov, editor of “Hockey” department

“Shifts are less frequent – the money is the same.” A unique year that can be compared to a popular phrase in hockey circles. You work, you analyze, you prepare, but you don’t get enough playing time to prove yourself. We certainly (!) practiced a lot, worked on new schemes and missed the games terribly. This year has taught us to appreciate every big start. World Championships should go every year, playoffs should not end after the first round. We should have the World Cup, the Olympics, and stay up on New Year’s Eve nights for the youth. Let there be more frequent shifts in the new year… And more money (the last point may not coincide with the plans of the editor-in-chief – Editor’s note).

Daniil Salnikov, Tennis Editor

2020 was a strange but interesting year. There were a lot of incredible discoveries. What did it teach you? First of all, to value your health, time, loved ones around you. And also to appreciate the opportunity to do what you love. And here and now, without putting off ideas, thoughts, topics for later and for a better time. After all, there may be no “better time”. In tennis, many players admit that they are afraid to skip tournaments now in order to prepare for something more important. Because this “important” can be canceled at any moment. And you won’t play anywhere. So let’s not live one day at a time, but appreciate every day!

After all, there may never be a “better time”.

Igor Bragin, editor of “Boxing/MMA” department

In addition to unprecedented emotions, the passing year proved once again that people strong in body and spirit are able to roll mountains. Literally and figuratively. At a time when the whole world was shaking with fear and was ready to freeze for an indefinite period of time, people from the world of martial arts defied the circumstances. UFC President Dana White resumed tournaments against all odds, including public opinion. As a result, we got 32 events, fighters earned their money, and Dana proved to the world that nothing is impossible. You just have to believe in yourself and not be afraid to take risks.

And this year also taught us to appreciate even the simplest things: a walk in the park, an opportunity to train in the pool or gym. And that it’s much easier and simpler to maintain health than to restore it. And that any virus aims to hit your weak points. Remember that when you’re in shape – physically and mentally – you’re ready for any eventuality. It’s not only healthy, but it also feels good. Especially, to feel that you are able to help in a difficult situation not only yourself, but also people close to you.

Take care of yourself and look forward with confidence! And may 2021 be easier and more pleasant for all of us.

Alexey Falco, editor of Basketball department

…2020 turned out to be a particularly bleak year for basketball. Probably even more so than for any other sport. The year began with the death of NBA commissioner David Stern, who made basketball a global game and transformed the league he led from unprofitable and uninteresting to a multimillion-dollar organization. In January, Kobe Bryant tragically died. In March, the coronavirus pandemic began. By the way, basketball set a negative trend for everyone else. The NBA was the first to suspend the season after the coronavirus was detected in Utah Jazz center Rudy Gober. Other sports leagues around the world, including the Euroleague Basketball League and VTB United League, followed suit later. The passing year taught us to keep a positive attitude and believe in the best, despite the unpleasant events in the world. I’d like to think that the worst happened in 2020, and basketball and the sport as a whole will experience as few shocks as possible in the future.

Alexey Adamov, Editor of Figure Skating Department

The year 2020 saw a real baby boom in figure skating. Olympic champions Elena Ilinykh and Yulia Lipnitskaya and World Championship medalist Anna Pogorilaya became moms. “Championship” did not lag behind the trends and also celebrated the replenishment. In 2020, we got an independent figure skating department. The kid is growing by leaps and bounds, rapidly catching up with his older brothers and (I hope very much) pleasing his parents.

In just a few months we managed to gather a young promising team. Our authors not only see the undercuts with their eyes closed, but also know how to explain it to those for whom a tulup is winter clothing and ribs are a snack for beer.

Figure skating has long ceased to be an elitist pastime for a select few. It is now a national idea, a cult, and a sports supershow. The year 2020 has taught us that the passions in figure skating are boiling even when there is not a single ice rink in the world, and the main news story is a photo of Zagitova’s dog. Thank you for being with us. More to come!

Alexey Seriakov, editor of the “Stakes” department

The year 2020 reminded us once again: the main thing is order at home, health of relatives and harmony with yourself. Chaos can begin at any moment, and without a reliable rear end not to succumb to its influence is difficult. Any ordinariness can become an outlet. No matter what is going on outside the window, the family and the favorite Champ, where one never loses vivacity of spirit, remain close by. Sometimes just a heart-to-heart talk with mom is enough for a good mood. Or stop by the comments.

Artem Rashchupkin, Cybersports Editor

This strange year has taught us to take care of ourselves, to think about our loved ones and to rejoice in the little things when you can just go to the movies or come to the gym to work out. How do they say? What we have – do not keep, lost – weep. It turns out that sitting on the couch around the clock and sleeping for 10-12 hours gets boring. I want variety, and this variety we tried to get through games and watching movies.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but for me this year turned out to be a success. I guess it’s all because this year was the year of my future wife, and her luck was passed on to me. This year I got married, made new friends, got a lot of positive emotions from working on “Championship”. I managed to diversify a little bit the section about games and cybersport on the site, I hope. I hate to read when some users come in and say: what do games have to do with sporting events? What are they doing here? Actually, video games and sports are similar. Both games and sports entertain us. They can keep us entertained for long hours and give us unforgettable emotions and impressions. Cybersportsmen, like athletes, are idols of millions. Many footballers and hockey players know the star cybersportsmen by name, in the face, come to their streams, make joint broadcasts with them, many athletes began to appear in games as game characters. So we can say that video games, cyber sports and sports are connected with each other in a strong union.

Valeria Barinova, Lifestyle Editor

To be honest, 2020 was not just one of the most challenging years of my life, but a truly life-changing year. And in what direction – I have not yet fully understood.

Lifestyle has taken on a lot of challenges and expectations. After all, almost every one of us decided to switch to home workouts, and then, after a couple weeks of devouring yummy treats, and remember about proper nutrition. Could we leave you without detailed instructions on how to do everything competently and without harming your health? Lifestyle has tried to be a friend, counselor, and even a vest for tears to everyone who finds themselves in a difficult situation of confinement. We turned to a large number of experts to better understand what we are trying to convey. These included nutritionists, trainers, and doctors from different fields and disciplines. We hope that in 2020 we saved at least one person from making a mistake, which is already a great achievement.

This year taught us not to give up, to see the good in the saddest and seemingly gloomy and hopeless. It also reminded us how important it is to protect the planet. Do you remember how nature revived after the factories stopped working? It’s in our hands to make it even better and cleaner. And of course, in 2020 we once again thought about how important it is not to postpone “for tomorrow”, because this very “tomorrow” may not come. Start taking care of yourself and your loved ones now, sign up for a gym, go for a jog in the morning, fulfill your dreams, finally buy a dog (like me) and make your body happy every day, and it will definitely thank you for it.

Polina Inozemtseva, editor of special projects

This year was not just strange, it literally turned everything upside down. But it was in 2020 that we realized that we could stand on our heads. After all, if sports were taken away from the whole world, but you and I – “Championship” and its readers – coped and managed to become even better, isn’t that a reason to say to each other “Wow, thanks, you’re awesome!”?

Now on a personal note? Back at the beginning of 2020, I definitely didn’t think that I would turn from the author of my native Lifestyle into an editor of special projects. It seemed to be a very different path – very obscure and distant. Therefore, my personal mantra for all the years ahead would be: be brave and don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t done before.

After all, after all, we’ve already run a ten without preparation, we’ve stood on a wakeboard before the defense of a term paper at the university, we’ve climbed into a cryo-chamber at -130 – and all this by the hand of Champ. High, let’s keep going!

Nikita Serbakov, News Editor

Every January 1 we meet with the thoughts that a new period of life begins, in which we will correct all the mistakes, learn what we have long dreamed of, and the next new year we will meet in a completely different role. January 1, 2020 was no exception.

This leap year promised us a lot of interesting and global sporting events: the late start of the World Hockey Championship, allowing a large number of NHLers to come to the tournament, and the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and the most unusual soccer Euro, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the tournament held in twelve countries across the continent.

But these plans were not destined to come true – COVID-19 came. For three months we lived in full lockdown mode, unable not only to watch sports, but also to go out normally. However, man is able to adapt to everything – the coronavirus was no exception, and in May the revival of professional soccer began with the Bundesliga. By the end of June, all significant soccer European championships returned, later the NHL and NBA resumed. In August, we managed to finish the Champions League in Lisbon, which gave us hope that life was returning to normal. The year 2020 taught us to be prepared for different twists of fate.

For now, the virus has not receded and the world’s best healthcare systems are up in arms against it. Every day there is information about the development of more and more effective vaccines. In the coming year I would like to wish everyone health, health and health again. And victories to your favorite team/athlete/national team. Happy New Year!