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Olympic champions and medal holders received keys to new Audi cars

Mutko believes that in 2016 Russia could improve its position in overall teams’ standings

MOSCOW, August 15 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Olympic champions and medalists of the London Olympic Games on Wednesday received keys to their new cars. The action was co-organized by the Russian Olympic Committee and the Audi Russia Company. The athletes posed for pictures in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral. After that they became the owners of new shining Audi cars. Olympic champions received keys to Audi A8 cars, silver medalists – Audi A7 cars and bronze medal winners – Audi A6 cars.

“This is a gift from Russian business. Earlier today, the athletes received gifts from the Russian president. Now, its’ time for the Russian business to thank them,” Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko said.

Speaking about Russia’s prospects at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio-de-Janeiro, the minister said that the task would be to show the same good performance as in London. Mutko said that Russia had to solve problems in rowing if it wanted to compete for a higher place. The minister said that in London, gold medals often went to athletes representing countries which previously knew little about this kind of sport.

Mutko believes that in 2016 Russia could improve its position in overall teams’ standings.

In the meantime, athletes of the Russian Interior Ministry won almost a third of all medals for Russia.

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev on Wednesday congratulated the athletes of the Russian Interior Ministry on their “brilliant performance” at the XXX Summer Olympic Games.

“The athletes of the Russian Interior Ministry won a third of the total number of Olympic medals: 26 out of 82, including twelve gold medals, five silver medals and nine bronze medals. Two world records and one Olympic record were set,” Kolokoltsev went on to say.

The Russian national Olympic squad included 102 athletes of the Russian Interior Ministry. Of which 29 athletes are employees of the interior bodies and 73 are servicemen of the internal troops.

Kolokoltsev praised athletes for impeccable performance in judo, race walking, gymnastics and other sports.

“You’ve demonstrated a top class performance and made it an unforgettable holiday for all of us. You’ve supported the image of the national sport and also of a police service and the internal troops of the Russian Interior Ministry,” Kolokoltsev went on to say.

The Russian interior minister also thanked the coaches and all those who had trained the athletes for top Olympic achievements.