News
Bolles Welcomes Visitors from Russia
The Bolles School welcomed a group of administrators from various youth and athletics organizations in Russia on Tuesday, October 9. The group is interested in the application of sports to success in school and life. While visiting the School's Upper School San Jose Campus, they met with Bolles' administrators, coaches, and students, toured the facilities, and observed swimming and football practices.
“This is my first visit to the U.S. and that is why I wanted to come,” Igor Semenovich Dunayev said. “As a human being, I am interested in this country because it is important to Russia in so many ways. As a specialist in sports and mainly basketball, I wanted to see with my own eyes and to learn for myself how they practice and work with kids.”
“It's all very impressive, how your academics and athletics are treated equal, yet both are successful,” Bezdetko commented. “This school is an excellent example of education and sports where priority is education. I have seen a very professional staff.”
As Russia is preparing to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, the group is particularly interested in nurturing champions and engaging all students. The Russian visitors were also interested in the topics of fundraising, use of the computer and internet, the relationship between school programs and the government and other non profits, as well as best practices.
“I personally was very impressed by the facilities and the buildings the students study, and learn, and live in,” Dunayev added. “The bond between the teachers and the students are so close. That bond is amazing. By learning about your education process, we can see why an Olympic champion can be raised here.”
“The most important to me is not the facilities but the attitude of the children,” Melyukhin said. “We are jealous in a good way because they are so happy. The family teams in the dorms were a great thing I learned here. The positive attitude and focus on the combination of sports and education and how they can work together to bring success to a child. This is something we have learned here and can bring back to our Schools and our work places.”
The International Visitor Corps of Jacksonville (IVCJ) was the group's local sponsor. A nonprofit organization committed to citizen diplomacy, they regularly bring emerging leaders from around the world to Jacksonville for professional, cultural and social experiences. More information about IVCJ can be found at www.ivcjax.com .
The visit is part of the Open World Program, enabling emerging leaders from Russia and other Eurasian countries to experience American democracy and civil society in action. Congress established the program in 1999 following discussions among Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and members of Congress led by Senator Ted Stevens (AK) on ways to increase U.S.-Russian understanding and to expose Russian leaders to American democratic and economic institutions. Open World has introduced more than 10,000 current and future Russian decision makers to American political and civic life, and to their American counterparts.
“By coming here, I see a very big expansion of the American abroad to see and understand the culture here,” Varnavskiy concluded. “We knew of a stereotype and I understand now why Americans believe so in their values. In Russia, it is a big problem where professional athletes are young and in their 20's and they have nothing to fall back on. Here we see they also have a good education and can get a job after the sport. Bolles helps them prepare for life outside of athletics. You also focus on character and honor.”