Spending Skyrockets for Russian Sports Development
Russia is taking its sporting development seriously ahead of Sochi 2014.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday the country will spend $1.3 billion in this aptly dubbed "Year of Sports" and a total of $3 billion over the next three years.
"Currently some 25 million people regularly go to gyms and stadiums in our country," he was quoted by Russian media.
"In line with our plans, this number must exceed 42 million by 2015 and in the longer term we need to reach the levels already achieved by many European countries, where some 70 percent of the population is regularly engaged in sporting activity."
Putin also said sports medicine must be made a priority and announced a dramatic budget increase from last year’s $4.3 million to $83.4 million for 2011, Ria Novosti reported.
"Each athlete on the Russian national team training for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi must have their own personal medical program," he said at a session focused on Russian sport development.
Also Monday, sports minister Vitaly Mutko announced an increase in the salaries of athletes on the Russian national team.
"We have secured support from the budget and an average salary will be increased to around 80,000 rubles [$2,770]," he said in reference to a monthly salary roughly five times the current average of between 12,000 and 20,000 rubles ($400-670).
Russia is trying to rebound from a disappointing performance at the 2010 Winter Games. Its athletes won 15 total medals in Vancouver but only three gold, good enough for sixth in the overall medal table.
Show of Support for Bavarian Bid
Munich 2018 is polling better than ever in the bid race’s final months.
Results from a poll conducted nationally by German broadcaster ZDF show 75 percent of Germans are backing the bid from Bavaria.
"We see this as confirmation of the unparalleled enthusiasm for winter sports in our country, and we will be building on that enthusiasm throughout our packed calendar of winter sports events this season," bid chair Katarina Witt said in a statement.
The survey comes as Munich 2018 prepares for its visit from the IOC Evaluation Commission in just six weeks.Around the Ringswill be on the scene for the March 1-4 inspection.
The results were released Monday.
Toronto Mayor "Blindsided" By Pan Am Costs
The mayor of Toronto says he’s been "blindsided" by the escalating costs of the 2015 Pan American Games.
Canadian media reported Tuesday that Rob Ford is up in arms over a price tag that’s about to hit nine digits.
"I was completely blindsided by this Friday afternoon and we didn't really have a choice," he was quoted in reference to the spending increase he and his executive committee endorsed.
"We had a gun put to our head."
It’s now up to city council to approve the additional $47 million, which would bring Toronto’s total for the Games up to roughly $100 million – or double the amount quoted when hosting rights were first awarded in 2009.
According to The Times Columnist, almost half the spending increase is for the cleanup of a former dump site that will house the Pan Am Aquatic Center, and the other half represents inflation from the original 2008 cost.
The money will alsobuy improvements to the track at York University and the construction of a BMX Course for what will be the largest event ever held on Canadian soil.
Thumbs Up for Annecy Ski Cross Venue
Annecy’s skicross venue has the blessing of 2007 world champion Ophélie David.
"The course was challenging and it was a real nail-biter right until the end," the French racer said after winning Sunday’s World Cup stage in Savoie Mont Blanc.
"The racers always look forward to the stage at Les Contamines, because we know the racing conditions will be excellent and an enthusiastic public will be there to cheer us on."
David finished sixth at the Vancouver Winter Games, where the discipline made its Olympic debut.
Rugby World Cup Accreditation
The International Rugby Board announced that media accreditation for this year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand is now open .
Written, photographic and non-rights-holding media can request accreditation by submitting an application via the official RWC accreditation portal until March 31. The portal is located here.
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