Unfortunately, political as well as social activities leave less time for hobbies. See below to find out what Sven himself talks about his hobbies.

 

Ballroom dancing
I took up ballroom dancing at the end of the '80s and was actively involved in dancesport in the beginning of 90s. And all that thanks to Andrei Murshakin, the coach at the dance club "Rondo", who get me to move my body and taught the necessary knacks. Later, if it was possible, I attended Andrei´s private lessons whenever possible as not to forget all sorts of twirls and turns.

 

Basketball
Like many boys, I was fond of basketball. As recently as in the late 90s I played basketball regularly once or twice a week. I've got no spare time lately – that´s why I cannot be engaged in everything would I like to. The truth is that I have always been a little overweight.

 

Nevertheless, when I pick up the ball during Summer Days or at other gatherings, you´d better look out – I still aim properly the shot!

 

Squash
I discovered the charms of that game for myself as soon as the squash club was opened in Harjuoru in the entre of Tallinn. Later I moved to Metrosquashi squares. In the meanwhile, the game of squash replaced my lunch every Tuesday and Thursday. Now I do not endure such a pace no longer. But sometimes, when I am free, I call to some friend of mine, and we have a nice game.

 

Swimming – or more specifically – undewater sports
At my early age I visited Young Sailors´ Club for underwater sport for five years. We went to practise in the harbor basin and I made a monofin on my own. Besides, I spent several summers at the sports camps on Muhu island.

 

Since then I have kept my love for water. Some years ago I repassed OWD (Open Water Drive) exams at Sebak (Diving Centrum in Estonia). Today I can dive to a depth of 18 meters.

 

Occasionally I take time also for diving.

 

If the equipment is not available, I just enjoy snorkeling. All my children are trained to swim and I accompany them to the pool myself from time to time to swim a little.

 

Bowling
My best result in bowling is 223 points, that gives an average of 150-170 points for a game. I am three times Estonian champion in bowling... Stop for a moment! I meant here the team competition of Lions. Every year a bowling tournament is organized by our club in Tallinn to all lions from all over Estonia. We are glad to see that the number of participants and their skill level is increasing from year to year.

 

Petanque
In recent years, like many people, I have also the petanque kit in my car. It is my popular pastime in the evening. I have organized petanque tournaments with decent engraved trophies to my friends and acquaintances on my birthday parties.

 

I, my wife Kairi and brother Mati Rebane (all members of our Lions Club call one another “a brother”) - we became Lions champions in petanque in 2001.

 

In 2002, we won the second place in a fierce fight with Kairi and brother Aare Karolin. And in 2005, the first place was again ours with brothers Raivo Juga and Artur Palm!

 

Chess
The initial chess moves were taught me by my mother when I had just become four. At the age of seven she put me into the chess school. So, chess exercises and the tournaments took me to Vene street for 7 successive years. And I could almost obtain the chess title of a Candidate Master– but if I remember right, I missed one point for approval. Nevertheless, I have only warm memories of that time and I believe that it helped to develop my analytical thinking in later years.

 

 

Fishing
Most of my friends know that in addition to petanque balls I have a fishing rod in my car as well. Fishing, after all, is such a nice, relaxing hobby.

 

It gets my adrenaline up while sitting the rod in hand and toying with bait. It provides the opportunity to organize your thoughts and analyze what has been done and what could be done in future. Well, and imagine the joy when a fish takes the bait!

 

Running
The running event “December 2008” was for me a breakthrough as for this hobby. After quitting smoking, I started to move my body more. Walking and jog-trotting developed gradually into running in a couple of months. I was running on running treadmill in winter and outdoors in other seasons. By now it has become a part of my daily routine. So, I can say that running 10-15 km forms a part of my lifestyle. And believe or not, it causes addiction. If you do not believe, join me in running! By the way, the total mileage of the race in 2009 and 2010 was 5600 km. Try it yourself!

 

Bridge
I learned to play bridge in my first year at university in 1987. In addition to the rubber bridge, I started to take part in the club tournaments. A few years later I joined already the competitive gaming and lately I've tried to participate in the most of Estonian Grand Prix competitions. Estonian Championship titles: I became Estonian Pairs Champion (with Tüüve Jugand) in 2005. I won Estonian championship in team competition (in a team Druva with Olavi Oja, Leo Luks, Lauri Naber, Lembit Dalberg and Aivar Tihane) in 2007 and 2008. I won third place in team competition (in a team Druva with Olavi Oja, Leo Luks, Lauri Naber, Lembit Dalberg and Aivar Tihane) in 2009 and 2010.

 

Championships:
2003 Istanbul Olympic Games (for teams), 80 countries – 41. place
2004 European Bridge Pairs Championship Menton, B-finals, 140 pairs – 88. place
2006 World Bridge Pairs Championship Verona, qualification match, 283 pairs – 90. place
2006 World Championship Verona (IMP pairs), qualification match, 117 pairs – 3.place
2008 European Bridge Teams Championship Pau; A-final, 38 countries – 18. place
2008 Beijing Olympic Games (for teams), quarter-final, 71 countries – 9. place
2009 European Bridge Teams Championship for Small Countries Vilnius, 18 countries – 4. place
2010 European Bridge Teams Championship Ostende, 40 countries – 15. place
2010 European Bridge Teams Championship for Small Countries Ptuj - 20 countries, 3. Place

 

As bridge is a pair game, my biggest thanks here to:
 

- to Valdur Laid, with whom I started at club tournaments in the 90s and have been playing bridge nearly 10 years almost every Monday at Tallinn club;
– to Hillar Sula, one of Estonian grand masters, who taught and improved a lot my knowledge related to that game, and has been my frequent partner at major tournaments in Estonia and abroad until today;
– to Tüüve Jugand, with whom I became an Estonian champion in 2005, and who has been my main partner at all major tournaments for several years. He died in tragic circumstances, still unknown, in April 2005;
- to Olavi Oja, with whom I won the Estonian championship in team competition for the first time in 2007, and who is my regular game partner at the big tournaments;
– to Mart Maasik and Jaanus Maripuu with whom I play often at both club and major tournaments;
- to Vassili Levenko, with whom I have started to play more often since 2008, and who has been my main partner in bridge since 2011.

 

You can meet me at the club tournament in Tallinn almost every Monday about 6:00 p.m.