VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
The Battle for Respect: Start Today competition is the first large-scale hip-hop project on television, and is intended to promote a healthy lifestyle among young people and prevent drug use, alcohol abuse and smoking.
Mr Putin attended the finals at Muz-TV's mobile studio, and presented awards to the winners in three categories - graffiti, rap and break dancing.
The prime minister presented a backpack filled with 100 cans of
spray paint to the best graffiti artist, who goes by the name Max-13.
The best rap performer, Roma Zhigan, received a pro-quality microphone
from the prime minister, and the winners in the break dancing category,
Dronya and Alesya, became the proud owners of a new boombox.
Mr Putin also invited the winners of the Muz-TV hip-hop competition to
the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Vancouver, during which the
Olympic flag will be handed off to the city of Sochi. Mr Putin's press
secretary, Dmitry Peskov, said that if Mr Putin does fly to Vancouver,
he will take the Battle for Respect winners with him on his jet.
Vladimir Putin's speech at the ceremony:
Thank you very much for such a warm welcome. I appreciate it.
This is the final stage of a competition put on jointly by Muz-TV and the Russian government to promote healthy lifestyles. The competition is called the Battle for Respect, and has categories for rap and breakdancing. Perhaps not everyone understands what these words mean, because this entire phenomenon is of foreign origin and uses foreign words. Let's start with the name of the competition itself: "Battle for Respect". "Respect" is a word of French origin, and the word "graffiti" is from the Greek word for "to write." "Rap" and "breakdancing" are of English origin.
Even though not everyone may like it, we live in a unique time, which is characterised by cross-cultural exchange. Those of us in politics and economics call this era of global cross-cultural exchange.
The same thing is taking place in popular youth culture. But what we have seen today is not merely mass culture, but something individual that requires great skill and creativity. In my view, any phenomenon, regardless of its national origin and name, always deserves the support of society and the state if it meets two criteria: first, if it requires talent, and second, if it requires creativity.
And what we have seen today in these three areas of endeavour is, of course, impressive. I must honestly say that those young people in our country that are involved in these art forms, and I'm not afraid to say this, bring their Russian charm (to them). Because although it may be crude, rap, even urban and street rap, already has social content and addresses the problems of youth. Graffiti is becoming refined and polished, like a real art form. Breakdancing is something completely unique. Breakdancing truly promotes a healthy lifestyle, because it is difficult to imagine how it could related to drug use. It would be impossible to perform so-called low-risk breakdancing, and still less high-risk breakdancing, (while on drugs), especially when you see the acrobatics some of these kids do. This really does command respect.
And of course I would really like it if these sorts of new phenomena, or as we can still say, global brands, were also to arise on our Russian soil. But when we travel to this or that country, we only have to say "kazachok" and everybody immediately starts to sing along. When you mention Russia, people always think of vodka, caviar, and nesting dolls. And I admit that these three things may be very attractive together - except for the vodka.
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who competed, because you truly have achieved outstanding results, and hundreds of thousands of viewers are watching you. Here on the screen we have seen that you are role models for millions of young people.
Thank you very much. Congratulations on your success.
* * *
Another idea came up at the last moment when we were preparing to come here. Not only to present modest prizes, but to continue our work together to promote healthy lifestyles. I'm inviting all of our winners to the Closing Ceremonies of the Olympics in Vancouver.
That's also where the Olympic flag will be handed over to the city of Sochi, the next site of the Olympics. I think that these young people will be there.
Many thanks to all of you for participating. Thanks everyone!
* * *
Thank you very much for such a warm and sincere welcome.
Right here, my future co-authors and co-performers talked about how many of them have stopped taking drugs and... that's right... got away from all that shit. There have of course been many creative and refined people in both global culture and our Russian culture who, one way or another, "got hooked" on some kind of crap. You know that this has always led to degradation and tragedy. Always!
That's why I again want to thank everyone who participated in this competition and everyone who watched it. Everyone who stood by and everyone who will listen to these slogans. I wish you every success. Thank you very much.
