Cheerful mind is the capital prize.

On February 21 OAO "Saratovneftegaz" (the subsidiary enterprise of "RussNeft") held XXVI Olympics Winter stage. The workers of all workshops and subsidiary enterprises of "Saratovneftegaz" came to support their teams and to match strength. Thirteen teams strived for victory in four events - ski race, table tennis, draughts and chess. The total number of the Olympics participants made 200 sportsmen and supporters.
Opening the evnt, Dmitry Katyshev, the Deputy Director General for the production control of ОАО «Saratovneftegaz», noticed:
- From year to year our track records become brighter, our emotions more memorable, that's why I'd like to wish all the participants to be as bold as brass in sport! And let our positive emotions and vivacity suffice for the Olympics Summer stage!
The day of the Olympics turned to be very frosty, but oil-workers' endurance and fortitude helped them to show excellent results in all events.
The winner teams: at ski race - sportsmen of «Pravoberezhny workshop of «Saratovneftegaz», draughts - the team of ООО «Zavolzhskoye Utility vehicles department», chess and table tennis - team of ООО «Saratovenergoneft».
Individual championship won Olga Shishova and Vyacheslav Klipin, the best chess-players became - Nadezhda Sherstneva and Vasily Shubin, the draughts-palyers - Natalia Dolgusheva and Alexander Fadeev, tennis-players - Olga Semykina and Boris Shevyakov.
The winners were awarded Diplomas, Cups and valuable gifts. There were also given second place and third place awards.
There were also amusing incidents as in any competition. Thus, the participant number one was the last at ski-race. This participant, as well as many others who didn't win competitions, was given promotion prize "Will to victory". It seems, that such reward can be extra stimulous to the intense training for the next competitions.
- Every year I come to the Olympics of our enterprise with pleasure, - says the chess winner of the event Nadezhda Sherstneva, playing for the team «Levoberezhye». – The event always takes place in our health improvement camp "Rovesnik". The nature is very beautiful here – the snow-covered forest, the sun, the river Volga, fresh air. All participants get here a good portion of health and an ability to try strength against worthy rivals, to communicate with colleagues. All my life is connected with ОАО «Saratovneftegaz». We live in village Stepnoye. I work as a lab assistant. My husband, Sergey Nickolaevich, worked at the enterprise before retiring pension, our two sons, Nickolay and Alexey, also became oil workers. Our daughter Daria goes to lyceum for the time being, but I think she will continue the working dynasty. The sports events arouse pride for the Company, the feeling of corporate solidarity.
One may notice, that Nadezhda Sherstneva has won all games of chess.
The draughts winner Natalia Dolgusheva is also from the team «Levoberezhye». She plays well from childhood. She was a championess of the Region and participated in Russia competitions.
Many a man have come to the Olympics with the families. Alexandra Ivanova from the team of «Zavolzhskoye Utility vehicles department» has come to the event with the daughter Elena and two grandsons Sasha and Dima. The grandmother played draughts, Elena participated in ski race and Sasha and Dima supported them. Of course, the boys dream to take part in the Olympics one day too. They liked the atmosphere of the event.
Tradition of the Olympics in "Saratovneftegaz" counts more than 20 years. Funds for the training sessions, competitions and purchase of prizes are pledged in social programme of the enterprise. In spite of the crises, this tradition will be kept as the health of the workers of the enterprise is a priority matter for the Company.
By the way, the oil workers hold not only internal corporate competitions. "Saratovneftegaz" has also conducted winter football tournament. On February, 14 nine football teams (6 from "Saratovneftegaz" and 3 regional teams: "Grand", "Business-Pravo" and "Stepanovskoye subsurface gas stock department") met on the football fields of the health improvement camp "Rovesnik".