Medvedev launches new "Concept" for preparing promising young athletes

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced on Monday that he had signed the Concept of Preparing Promising Young Athletes in Russia until 2025.

Addressing a meeting with deputy prime ministers, Medvedev said the document envisages a new transparent system for drafting young athletes for the national team adding that that the Concept "also sets updated professional standards for coaching staff and criteria for sports schools."

"Results of the Olympic Games, the [FIFA] World Cup indicate that we have a staff reserve and we have athletes to be proud of," Medvedev said adding that the results could be proved by "the national team, which topped the overall medals standings at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires."

"The boys and girls won a total of 59 medals, including 29 golds," Medvedev said. "This is a very good result and it proves that we have a decent Olympic reserve."

At the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, held in Argentina’s Buenos Aires between October 6 and 18, the team of Russian young athletes bagged a total of 59 medals (29 golds, 18 silvers and 12 bronzes), beating its national record. For the first time in history, the Russian national team was in the lead of the medal standings, followed by China (18-9-9) and Japan (15-12-12).

"I am sure that our young athletes will put up a decent performance at the Winter Universiade, which we are hosting in the city of Krasnoyarsk [in 2019]," the Russian premier stated.

The Russian Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, which has a population of over one million, is set to host the 2019 Winter Universiade next year between March 2 and 12.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev added that in order "for the most perspective children to reach the level of professional sports a transparent system of selection and support must be in force and it must be in compliance with the Concept.".