The Prime Minister has assessed the country's sports reserve.
With five years to go to the Sochi Winter Olympics this is an auspicious time to assess our potential. The country's leaders regularly inspect the progress of the Olympic infrastructure construction. However, it is still unknown who will represent Russia at the 2014 Olympics.
Vladimir Putin yesterday reviewed the athletes when he visited Olympic Reserve School No.2 to meet the medal winners at the Winter Spartakiad of Russia. "I very much hope that many of those present will be able to take part in these games," Mr Putin cheered on the eager young champions sitting in front of him.
The young athletes were excited, perhaps not so much about the forthcoming Olympics, as about the opportunity to have their pictures taken with the Prime Minister.
Before introducing the athletes, the School's principal showed Mr Putin the facilities used by the Olympic hopefuls. The facilities were quite impressive. A psycho-correction room, a system for acclimation to high altitudes, a subconscious psycho-diagnostics complex...
"You have displayed character and ability, so you have talent," the Prime Minister congratulated the kids. Their eyes cast down, the kids were so tongue-tied that they were unable to utter a word.
"Come on, don't be afraid, you are athletes," Mr Putin tried to encourage them.
The captain of the female ice-hockey team proved to be the bravest. She asked, on behalf of all her colleagues, for a chance to go to North America "to gain experience."
"Young women will be increasingly involved in traditionally male sports," was all that Mr Putin answered in response.
He was then asked about the fate of those who would like to become professional athletes but who were about to be called up for Army service.
"One has to admit that the Armed Forces have not paid enough attention to sports," Mr Putin said. And he went on to promise: the Defence Ministry must have top-class sportsmen, so the Central Sports Army Club (CSKA) will be preserved." Only recently there was talk about reforming the CSKA and making it obligatory for professional athletes to serve in the army like everybody else.
The Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko told journalists that a couple of days earlier he had met with President Dmitry Medvedev who instructed him to submit to the Government before September 1 the concept of an organisational structure and the system of funding the CSKA in the future. "The main thing is that CSKA will be preserved as a brand," the Minister rejoiced.
That day the Minister of Sports had to act as a photographer. As soon as the meeting was over Vladimir Putin began to leave, but the young people surrounded him to take a group picture and then to be photographed with Mr Putin individually. Mr Mutko found himself positioned on the opposite side of the room and he had no option but to press the buttons of the numerous cameras thrust upon him.
Natalya Antipova