Vyacheslav Fetisov — First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Physical Culture, Sport, Tourism, and Youth Affairs, The State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation; Patron for Polar Regions, United Nations Environment Programme
Viacheslav Alexandrovich “Slava” Fetisov is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman and coach who earned two Stanley Cups during his time as a player and one as coach with the NHL. He also earned two Olympic gold medals, one silver and one bronze during his hockey career as both a player for the Soviet national team and as manager for the Russian national team. Slava is a currently an acting member of the State Duma of Russia—one of the two bodies that make up the Russian Federal Assembly. After the 2002 Winter Olympics, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered him the position as Minister of Sport, a post he held until 2008. Fetisov has become passionate about polar conservation and was a formidable advocate on behalf of the Ross Sea within Russia with a commitment to work for long-term protections through a network of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean. In 2018 he was appointed UN Environment Patron for Polar Regions.
