MILAN – "Besides being president of Mongolia, I'm also a big Inter fan," said Elbegdorj. "Because of the time difference we can only see games at night. I get up to watch our matches, the important ones. Yesterday the game against Lille was very interesting and we won. There are thousands of Mongols, children and adults, who support Inter. A football stadium is being built and we're setting up an academy for young people who want to play the sport. We'd like to work with Inter."
Is that an invitation?
"Yes, it's an invitation from me, as president, to Inter, their players and anyone who wants to come to Mongolia. I hope some of our youngsters can come here to learn how to play football, which is a marvellous game."
What is the importance of you being in Italy for you and your country?"Our two countries were once the greatest empires in history, the Roman Empire and the Mongol Empire, and we're proud of our history and our achievements. Everyone knows who Genghis Khan was. We can say that we were the most powerful nations on the planet. I think new possibilities and opportunities are opening up for the future now and sport is one of the best ways to bring distant countries closer together."
So you think football is definitely the most useful way to build a bridge between the same generations of countries so far apart?"There are more horses than people in our country: 6 million horses and 3 million people. They are the most famous horses in the world and I hope that in the future our country might be famous for football too. There's a lot of passion for Inter and, as you say in Italy, Se son rose fioriranno." [Literally, 'If they are roses, they will bloom', meaning that if something is meant to be, it will be.]
Massimo Moratti was at the meeting with his wife Milly and children Angelomario and Carlotta, respectively Inter vice president and president of Inter Campus. Elbegdorj also spoke about Inter Campus and the importance of combining the prestige of one of the world's biggest football clubs with an organisation that carries a message of peace and happiness to 24 countries. Representing Inter were Francesco Toldo, Diego Forlan and Philippe Coutinho. An exchange of gifts ended the visit and sealed what president Elbegdorj called a family friendship. "Now that I've met Massimo Moratti's children we can say that we really are friends."
Inter Channel's interview with Tsakhia Elbegdorj will be shown in full at 19:30 on Internews.
