In Russia, stories are once again being circulated about Putin's involvement in hockey and his regular appearances on the ice
There has recently been an increase in reports in the Russian media claiming that 73-year-old Vladimir Putin allegedly plays hockey on a regular basis.
First, two-time Olympic champion and State Duma deputy Vyacheslav Fetisov claimed that he had recently played in a hockey game alongside Putin.
“Vladimir Vladimirovich has fallen in love with this game, and he really enjoys it all. Constant new sensations, the chance to switch gears. Hockey is all about constantly experiencing something new. When he makes a good shot, or passes the puck... For our president, staying in shape and enjoying sports and the game is a necessity today. And we usually sit down with the legends afterward to discuss all sorts of topics. He also enjoys chatting with us,” Fetisov noted.
Later, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin allegedly continues to play hockey.
“Yes. The president continues to play hockey,” Peskov said, commenting on Fetisov’s statements.
At the same time, it is worth noting that the Kremlin has not published any new videos or photos of Putin’s hockey practices for quite some time, although such “PR appearances on the ice” were previously shown quite regularly.
Against this backdrop, new statements by Russian officials about Putin’s alleged active participation in sports may appear to be an attempt to maintain the image of the Russian leader as physically active. There are also speculations in the public sphere that such reports may be linked to attempts to deny possible health issues concerning the dictator, although there is no official confirmation of this.
Earlier, the Swedish bandy team withdrew from the World Championship, which is scheduled to take place in the Russian city of Irkutsk. The federation explained its decision as a matter of “respect for the health of its players” during the pandemic.
