The meeting discussed preparations for the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi, and the World University Summer Games, which will take place in Kazan in 2013.
These are extremely important sporting events for Russia, the President said, stressing that their organisation requires unprecedented effort and the highest levels of responsibility. The first stage of the Olympic project is already complete, he said, and the main stage of the work will start this year.
Developing Sochi as a world-class sports, leisure and resort centre, with all the corresponding infrastructure, is one of the most important tasks, the President said.
Mr Medvedev called on construction companies from other parts of the country to join in the work on building Olympic facilities in Sochi, noting that this could help to support the construction sector during the current crisis.
The President also spoke about developing children’s and youth sport, and building up the system for training and replenishing the supply of sports personnel.