August 13, 2008 Natalia Paderina and Nino Salukvadze
When shots rang out in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, couched between Georgia and Russia, Natalia Paderina and Nino Salukvadze were both far from their respective homes, preparing to fire their own guns in Beijing, China. With the heavy curtain of politics hanging over the Olympic Games this year, the spirit of peace and fair play that characterizes the games is easily obscured. However, the feeling of comradeship beyond borders was not forgotten by Paderina and Salukvadze. After Georgia made military movements to regain control over its separatist regions, Russian troops and artillery fire crossed the border. The situation escalated to outright war this week, though there are late-breaking indications of a tenuous settlement on the horizon. While their governments are at war, the two friends had an exchange of a different sort: a teary embrace and a kiss. Paderina won the silver for Russia and Salukvadze the bronze for Georgia in the women's 10m air pistol competition. After the medal ceremony, Salukvadze put her arm around Paderina, who gave her fellow competitor a kiss on the cheek. Paderina, who serves in the Russian Army, was quoted saying both the Olympics and their friendship rise above the fray of war: "We are really friends and don't get mixed up in political things. Sports is not politics."The 35-member Georgian team had offered to withdraw from the Olympics if it would help the situation, but the country's president rejected the idea. Georgia's Salukvadze, who once competed alongside Paderina as a member of the Soviet Union's team, called for peace between her country and Russia, chastising the governments for their actions: "We live in the 21st century, after all. We shouldn't really stoop so low to wage wars against each other."Already lauded for their athletic prowess, BuzzFlash did not want to see this symbolic call for reconciliation go unrewarded. For reminding us of the true spirit of the Olympics, we award this week's Wings of Justice Award to rivals and friends Natalia Paderina and Nino Salukvadze.
* * * Nominated by the BuzzFlash staff.
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