After heavy and long illness at the age of 64 years has died Vyacheslav Maksimovic Krasnov.
For many years he was a member of the Presidium of the Federation and headed the Race wWalking Committee of Russia.
In 1999, for the first time in the history of Russian athletics, Vyacheslav Krasnov was elected a member of the IAAF Race Walking Committee. In this position he continued to make his contribution to the year 2011.
His expertise in the organization of events in the republic of Chuvashia was of high level and absolutely reliable; nothing was left to chance. His hospitality was commendable: wanted to show everyone that his Chuvasia was a land to love.
Great were its organizations in the years 2003 and 2008 respectively when Cheboksary had been designated as the venue for the European Cup and the IAAF World Race Walking Cup.
The writer met him for the first time at the World Cup of Podebrady in 1997 and was one of the few times that Vyacheslav Krasnov served as a judge and as chief judge in the 20 km road walk men).
Unfortunately his not high command of English did not allow him to remain in the panel when in 1998 beganfor the international judges, then appointed by the Countries, without examinations.
And it is the first European edition of these examinations, held in Dudince 1998, it dates from the memory the cutest remeber of Vyacheslav Krasnov, who has captured his sympathetic figure who deserves entirety.
In a room with more than 40 people the lecturers (Lamberto Vacchi, Peter Marlow) held their lessons, but on the faces of the judges felt the tension for the exams that would begin two days later.
We were divided into groups to carry out a common work, and one of these groups consisted of 5 jokers Italian-Spanish and two Polish friends.
In a range of work we decided to do something to defuse the climate of anxiety.
So it was that left the room were out of the hotel close to the market a farmer's with its ever-present bottle of "grappa" (edn: colorless brandy distilled from wine).
In an instant we bought for a few crowns, stealthily entered the room, and changed the bottle of mineral water with that of "grappa", trying to remember the place of Krasnov, which we felt the one who "would have been more to the joke" .
And so it was passed about twenty minutes and while Lamberto Vacchi we bathed of notions, could not understand why the side of the Mediterranean group is whispering and and smiling, while until recently the atmosphere was frosty.
He understood when Vyacheslav filled his glass he thought was water with brandy and drank it in one gulp.
The rest is easy to imagine. Our victim/friend after he recovered from his surprise embraced us.
Since then the atmosphere changed, and it was the most beautiful exams than ever.
The last time we met was at the Russian championships in 2013 always in Cheboksary, and as always the hospitality was great.
We aim to remember you in this way, Vyacheslav. May you rest in peace and our deepest condolences to your family.
Vyachelav Krasnov (first right) together with
Peter Marlow, Maris Peterson, Frederic Bianchi e Nicola Maggio in Cheboksary 2013