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Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Novogorsk training centre in the Moscow Region

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As part of his visit to the centre, the prime minister met with members of Russia's national junior hockey team. Congratulating the players on their victory at the world championships, Vladimir Putin remarked that the game was brilliant, interesting and beautiful, as well as "strong-willed". Mr Putin then handed coach Valery Bragin a certificate of honour for his efforts.

Shortly after, the prime minister met with the national women's junior hockey team as well. The girls greeted him by pounding their hockey sticks against the ice. "Are you going to win?" asked Vladimir Putin. The athletes responded in the affirmative, declaring that they intend to win in March at the World Ice Hockey Championships in Dmitrov and are also preparing to participate in the Olympics. "In Sochi, we need to win," Putin said.

Figure skaters – both those competing in singles and in pairs – also found time to demonstrate their routines for the prime minister. Vladimir Putin greeted the athletes and coaches and thanked them as famed Russian coach Tatiana Tarasova conducted a tour of the premises.

At the training centre, Mr Putin visited various ice arenas and the curling rink. He was also shown the centre's dressing rooms, outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment used to help athletes review their mistakes in instant replay through cameras mounted on the ice.

The building has not yet been officially commissioned, but teams are conducting test events on site. The centre's management said that it contains three main areas: an ice rink for figure skating and short-track, a hockey training centre (the centre's first to use freely hinged boards), and an area for curling. Next year, another area of the complex will be completed that will house facilities for track and field events, rhythmic gymnastics and football, as well as a pool for swimming.