MOSCOW, October 27. /TASS/. Sports should unite peoples rather than dividing them, while some international sports organizations are "undermining cooperation" in this humanitarian sphere, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.
"Thank you very much for the offer regarding the sports aspect," the president thanked Minister of Energy and Petroleum of Senegal El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf after he invite him to attend the Youth Olympic Games in his country.
"All of this is indeed important for cooperation and for creating the right conditions," Putin said addressing participants at the eighth summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Moscow, the Russian capital.
"We unfortunately are witnessing some actions in the sports environment and in international sports organizations that undermine cooperation in this crucial humanitarian sphere," Putin continued.
"We [Russia] adhere to the principle that sports, just like art and cooperation in the energy sphere, is undoubtedly something that should unite, rather than divide, peoples," the Russian president added.