Russian athletes must keep winning int'l competitions - minister

ASTRAKHAN. April 16 (Interfax) - Russian athletes must continue to take part in international competitions, Russian Sport Minister Oleg Matytsin said.

"I believe they should keep competing, keep winning, while we must gain the right to compete, including at the Olympics. Yes, without an anthem, yes, without a flag, but we have been performing like this since 2016 and everyone knows who we are. We have a Russian passport and a Russian soul, and we work for the glory of particular athletes and coaches, and also of Russia," Matytsin said at a meeting with the sport public in the Astrakhan region.

Russian athletes have been licensed for seven sport events of the Paris Olympic Games, he said.

"Our task is to support the guys and their coaches and to be proud of their victories, as we have been throughout our history. So, we must fight, practice and win," Matytsin said.