Russia lifts visa requirements for foreign athletes

Russian President Vladimir Putin scrapped visa requirements for foreign athletes and other sports staff heading to Russia for international competitions, Kremlin said Monday. According to the decree signed by Putin and enacted immediately, "participants in international sporting competitions can enter and exit Russia without applying for visas on the basis of existing documents that confirm their identity." Putin ordered the government to work out and publish the particulars of how long those without visas may remain in the country. Russia hosts a bunch of major sport events in the coming years, including the World Universiade in 2013, the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014 and the World Soccer Cup in 2018. Source: XINHUA