OREANDA-NEWS. October 15, 2008. The State Council Presidium and the Council for the Development of Physical Education and Sport held a joint meeting.
 
The meeting's participants discussed the performances of Russian athletes at the Beijing Olympics, preparations for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2013 World Student Games in Kazan, and the general development of sport in Russia.

In his speech Dmitry Medvedev noted that Russia has all necessary resources for the development of popular sports and high achievements in sports and emphasised the need to take urgent measures to modernise the sports sector.

The meeting's participants discussed the Strategy for the Development of Sport in Russia through to 2020. According to the President its main purpose is to create the conditions so that 50 percent of Russian citizens and at least 80 percent of children play sports. Dmitry Medvedev stressed that representatives of the regions, of sporting communities as well as business communities should be involved in the preparation of this document.

The head of state noted that before approving the Strategy it is necessary to take a number of operational measures that will have a rapid impact and make the physical education of adolescents and young people more attractive and effective.

The President said that a Deputy Prime Minister who will oversee preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi will soon be appointed.