Government eyes rebirth of mass sports movement

Over the last several years the budget for sports has doubled in Russia, said Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday. Kudrin also said that financing will be concentrated on the construction of key objects. New sports buildings will be fewer, but of a higher quality.

Chairman of the State Sports Committee Vyacheslav Fetisov said that next year's budget satisfies all the major requirements of the sports federations. Approximately USD 1.65 million will be allotted for the construction of federal and regional sports complexes next year. Moreover, the budget will also provide for so-called presidential stipends, which more than 3 thousand athletes and trainers will receive.

Fetisov also said that regular sports meetings would be held by school-aged children. In the first round, more than 5 million boys and girls will participant. Putin said this would be the beginning of a rebirth of a new sports movement in the country.