Restoring trust in Russian athletes among Sports Ministry's tasks - Golodets
MOSCOW. May 21 (Interfax) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets has introduced Pavel Kolobkov, who has been re-appointed sports minister, to the ministry's staff.
"Today is the first day of work of the new government. I am introducing to you new Russian Sports Minister Pavel Anatolyevich Kolobkov. Our sports and system of physical culture face serious tasks, as outlined in the new presidential decree. The number of people who do mass sports should be at least 55%. We should make physical culture an instrument of boosting people's standards of living, make sports accessible to all categories of people. We must support initiatives that lead to the strengthening of health and an increase in life expectancy in Russia," Golodets said.
"Serious tasks stand before us: restoring trust in Russian athletes on the global scene. We will do everything we can to make that happen," she said.
"This isn't the easiest time for sports, but it cannot be said that this is very difficult, either. Ahead of us are the strengthening of our sports positions on the international scene, the development of children's and young people's sports, the development of mass sports, of course, a lot of big competitions. The nearest event is the World Cup. The Sports Ministry and I personally, it goes without saying, are ready to work together and provide assistance," Kolobkov said.