Text is appropriate. It is still cyrilic script, the writing system that conects Slavic people. Even I from Serbia could read it and understand and I never learned it.
It needs to be associated with Russia, not necessarily invented in Russia. Croissants are also associated with France, but were invented in Austria, for example.
The Cyrillic alphabet (or to be more correct an earlier version of it) was invented by the saint brothers (Constantine-) Cyril and Methodius who are born in Thessaloniki. They develop an alphabet which should allow the Slavic nations to read the Bible in their own language and not in Greek or Latin. This should help for the easier spread of Christianity among the Slavs. The first alphabet however was quite complicated. Search glagolitic script and you'll see what I mean. Later, one of Cyril and Methodius pupils, St. Clement of Ohrid develops a new alphabet and calls it "cyrillic" in the name of his teacher. And this is the one which is still used today.
You should allow Sahalin for Sakhalin. Kept trying Sahaline, Sahaleen and every other version I could think of. The 'k' never crossed my mind, it's silent anyway.
It's strange, that Sharapova is considered like the most famous and important Russian sportsman. In fact this is Ovechkin who is the main Russian athlet.
Sharapova is practicaly foreigner for us.
The popularity of Rasputin is also enough odd for me.
So interesting to hear comments like this. I've never heard of Ovechkin so looked him up; he appeared with lots of other current Russian athletes I don't know.
My memories are of the 60s and 70s when we watched with awe the track and field greats like Borzov (then a member of USSR olympic team) and Press, and the amazing gymnasts and ice skaters of the USSR, Tourischeva and the Protopopovs among them. And of course, Lev Yashin.
Hard to compare with today because the shadow of doping hangs over that era but older Brits who were interested in sport would know those names I think.
Sharapova is practicaly foreigner for us.
The popularity of Rasputin is also enough odd for me.
My memories are of the 60s and 70s when we watched with awe the track and field greats like Borzov (then a member of USSR olympic team) and Press, and the amazing gymnasts and ice skaters of the USSR, Tourischeva and the Protopopovs among them. And of course, Lev Yashin.
Hard to compare with today because the shadow of doping hangs over that era but older Brits who were interested in sport would know those names I think.