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Medvedev: State, Olympic support fund to finance high performance sport

The prime minister also noted that a program for social and professional adaptation of athletes finishing their sport career should be developed before July 15
Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ITAR-TASS/Dmitry Astakhov
Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev
© ITAR-TASS/Dmitry Astakhov

MOSCOW, January 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Development of high performance sports will be funded not only from state financial sources, but also a special support fund for Russian Olympic athletes within a few years, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Friday at an awarding ceremony of presidential diplomas to the medalists of World Summer University Games in the capital of Russian Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, in 2013.

“We have promoted high performance sports quite well,” he noted. “Program of support to Russian Olympic athletes will be continued at the Summer Olympics in Brazil in 2016 and the Winter Olympics in South Korea in 2018,” Medvedev pledged. “So, we preserve private financial sources along with state sources,” he said.

Notably, the prime minister noted that the country’s Olympic support fund will continue the program of support to special children’s and youth sports schools up to 2016.

“Meanwhile, some state funds are still available despite a quite difficult financial situation. Vitaly Mutko is supervising these monetary funds, does not give them to anyone. Good fellow, he is seeking for sport to preserve its funding,” the prime minister said.

Addressing to laureates of the presidential diplomas, Medvedev also noted that the Kazan Universiade “has set the highest level that is difficult to surpass” in terms of sport achievements, preparation to competitions, creation of infrastructure and work of volunteers.

The prime minister instructed to develop a support program for Russian athletes, claiming for successful performance at the Summer Olympics in Rio-de-Janeiro in 2016 and the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018. The program for the Summer Olympics in 2016 should be developed before July 15, 2014, and measures aimed at support to athletes preparing for the Winter Olympics in 2018 should be developed by October 30. Meanwhile, the support programs should embrace not only athletes, but also coaches and other specialists of sport teams.

Instructions are given to the presidium of the trustee board of the Russian Olympic support fund.

The prime minister also noted that a program for social and professional adaptation of athletes finishing their sport career should be developed before July 15.