Counter-competitions to world cups, soccer games against their own offspring: after the comprehensive international exclusion, Russia is creating its own world in sport – Putin uses this for his victim narrative.
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Johannes Aumuller
After all, the organizers have dispensed with designations such as “Team Vladimir”, “Team Putin” or “Team Z”. The names were nonetheless significant. Twelve athletes gathered in the “Red Machine” team, twelve others in the “Time of the First” team – both terms that evoke particular Russian strength. “Red Machine” was the nickname given to the Soviet Union national ice hockey team in the 1970’s for its dominance. And “The Time of the First” is the title of a film that traces the story of cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, who was the first person to float in space with a rope.