Vladimir Putin proposed to develop a subprogram on state hockey support

(Kazan City KZN.RU, April 22). Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to work out subprogram on state support of hockey in the framework of the Federal Target Program (FTP) for the development of the sport after 2018. He said this today in Kazan at a meeting of the Presidential Council for the development of physical culture and sports.

The meeting is attended by Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy in the Volga Federal District Mikhail Babich, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Igor Levitin, Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin, chairman of the Russian Hockey Federation Arkady Rotenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CHL Gennady Timchenko, chairman of the Russian Ice hockey Federation Vladislav Tretyak and others.

"At the end of the last Council we agreed on the allocation of subprogram from the federal target program for the sport for football. Maybe we should start subprogram for hockey, but, of course, after 2018 - after the reduction of the financial burden associated with the World Cup in football tournament", - Vladimir Putin said.

Russian President recalled that this year the domestic hockey celebrates 70th anniversary. "These years were full of hundreds of triumphant events and a whole galaxy of outstanding athletes, coaches, who are inscribed in "golden pages" of the history of world hockey. It was they who laid the foundations of Russia's leadership in this sport. Today our teams remain at the level of clubs and national teams in the leading roles, - Vladimir Putin said. - However, in the modern history of the Russian hockey players have never won Olympic "gold", and the upcoming 2018 Games in Koree is an excellent opportunity to achieve this result, such a victory. Obviously, success in major international competitions is always the result of long preparatory work, constant movement forward. And it is important to understand where we are lagging behind, what we need to do".

From the obvious problems Vladimir Putin singled out the material and technical base, the press service of the President of the Republic of Tatarstan informs. He reminded that there are 485 indoor ice rinks with artificial ice in the country today. This is more than in Finland (260) and Sweden (358).

But, according to the President of Russia, it is not enough for our country. As an example, he cited Canada, where there are 2631 skating rinks. "That's what you need to compare. That is, we have something to strive for and a lot of work", - Putin said.

Chairman of Board of Russian Hockey Federation (FRH) Arkady Rotenberg said at the meeting the working group on preparation of Presidential Council on Physical Fitness and Sports has offered to take program of development of hockey in Russia in the framework of the federal target program on the 2016-2020. "The state should secure the right to be compensated if a player or his agent will decide to play abroad. It is wrong, when agent comes to prepared young hockey player and sign a contract with him - Arkady Rotenberg said. - This situation is unacceptable, not only in hockey but also in other sports".

According to Arkady Rotenberg, it is important to involve young people in systematic trainings of hockey. "We are developing a single program of involving children in hockey. Federation developed and automated registry, that will be launched soon, which will have all the data on our hockey players,"- Arkady Rotenberg said.

He added that now working on re-establishment of a unified classification of Russian coaches is on go. "Coaching seminars will become an important element of the program. In this issue we need to clearly communicate with the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation", - Arkady Rotenberg said.