Mr Ivanov read the President’s greetings to participants and guests at the ball. “This is a special year for Russia. The XXII Winter Olympic Games were a great success. Our national team won a record number of medals, creating a beautiful, unforgettable celebration for all the fans. In the near future, in 2016, the Olympic flame will light up in Brazil,” reads the President’s message, in part.
In his speech, Sergei Ivanov also thanked the Olympic athletes, coaches and veterans for their input into developing Russian sport. Mr Ivanov noted that the Russian national team showed outstanding results at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in the medal count, which exceeded even the Soviet-time achievements. According to the Chief of Staff, this testifies to the development of traditions in Russian sport. The Russian athletic veterans, outstanding coaches and athletes are the pride of the country and its national asset, Mr Ivanov stressed.