Putin Wows Olympic Committees in Moscow

(ATR) Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin underlines the power of sport to spur social change in his address to the Association of National Olympic Committees.

Welcomed by IOC president Jacques Rogge as a "sports lover" whose government had the best interests of the Olympic Movement at heart, Putin delivered a short speech Friday to the ANOC General Assembly, referencing the Sochi 2014 Winter Games and Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup on several occasions.

Speaking in Russian, his key message focused on Russia's rise as a sporting nation that was continuing to attract such mega-events. In 2013 the country stages both the Summer Universiade in Kazan and the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow while a Formula One Grand Prix is slated for Sochi in 2014.

"It is not accidental. This is because we do a lot to support and promote sport and the Olympic Movement," he told a packed room of delegates that included Russian IOC members Vitali Smirnov, Alexander Popov and Shamil Tarpishschev as well as deputy prime minister Dmitry Kozak and sports minister Vitaly Mutko.

Putin spoke about the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship as well as how Russia had embraced them in its 101-year history in the Olympic Movement. He claimed that sport had the power to help fight major domestic and global threats such as regional and social conflicts and religious intolerance.

He said at home and abroad sport was being used as a tool to "make the world more fair, more humane, more just and more open".

Putin added: "The world's financial markets are in turmoil and this affects the area of sport but we are quite convinced ... all these obstacles will be surmounted given a reasonable approach.

"[Sport] must, should and will be a locomotive for social development."

The Russian president-elect, who is expected to be sworn into office May 7, also talked about how Russia was playing its part in tackling the threats to the Olympic Movement.

He said athletes and sports federations needed to "work together, struggle together" to combat doping "and manipulation of sports results and illegal betting".

Referencing racism in opaque terms, a major problem in Russian football and in other countries worldwide, he noted that the antisocial behavior of sports fans was a challenge to be solved.

"We are confidentthat common approaches [can work]. Russia is prepared to take an active part particularly in these directions," he said.

Putin made some impromptu comments about Russia's sports infrstructure when he sat down next to Rogge after milking the applause of the ANOC delegates.

Saying that Russian sports participation was on the rise as a result of growing investment in sports facilities nationwide, Putin said the 2020 target was to have no less than 40 percent of the population taking part in sports.

"We will achieve this objectives. We have established new programs in youth development and competitions for all ages," he added.

Returning to preparations for the Sochi2014 Olympics and Russia 2018 World Cup, Putin said: "We are doing all we can to ensure all these sports events and other events will be held to the highest standards."

Putin invited representatives from the 203 NOCs present to visit the site of the 2014 Winter Games in the Black Sea resort.

Congratulating Sheikh Ahmad Al Sabah on his election as the new ANOC president, Putin said: "You are known as a man who has done a lot for the development of sport.

"Your experience in sport and in the diplomatic field and personal, wide-ranging contacts in regional and global structures will enable you to cope very effectively with the tasks that you face."

Other business on the ANOC agenda Friday included a World Anti-Doping Agency update by Craig Reedie, IOC member form Great Britain, who was filling in for WADA president John Fahey and the organization's director, David Howman, both of whom were unable to attend.

In perhaps a first for an ANOC meeting – and maybe a sign of things to come under the body's new leadership – the day was abbreviated with all business done by 4 p.m. That allowed delegates to get ready for a trip to the Bolshoi Theater in the evening.

Coe, Chernyshenko Headline ATR Newsmaker Breakfast

"Breakfast with Seb and Dima" – next Monday's Around the Rings Newsmaker Breakfast – is set for the Fusion Plaza restaurant, 2nd level (street mall) of the World Trade Center Moscow.

Sebastian Coe, chairman of London 2012, and Dmitry Chernyshenko, president and CEO of Sochi 2014, will join Ed Hula, editor of ATR.

The event is sponsored by ISM Ltd., the IOC's worldwide exclusive interactive entertainment software licensee, and The Concerto Group, London's premier events planning organization.

Space is strictly limited. Click here for more information, and RSVP to Harriet Drinkwater of The Concerto Group.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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