Following the world junior hockey championship’s opening match between Russia and the USA, Vladimir Putin met with the directors, shareholders and sponsors of Russian hockey clubs.

Vladimir Putin attended the opening ceremony of the World Ice Hockey U18 Championship.

Vladimir Putin had a brief conversation with interim President of the International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles (FILA) Nenad Lalovic. In particular, the discussion addressed the suggestion to exclude wrestling from the Olympic Games core sports.

The general release for Nikolai Lebedev’s Legenda No. 17 will take place on April 18. The film is a life story of Valery Kharlamov, a legendary Soviet hockey player.

Vladimir Putin met with French football legend and UEFA [Union of European Football Associations] President Michel Platini.

Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions following the March 19, 2013 meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport on preparing for and holding the 27^th Summer Universiade in Kazan.

Vladimir Putin signed a list of instructions following a March 13, 2013 meeting with coaches, athletes and physical culture and sports experts.

Vladimir Putin met with representatives of the Russian Ice Hockey and Figure Skating federations.

Vladimir Putin held a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport in Kazan.

Vladimir Putin inspected preparations for the XXVII Summer World University Games to be held in 2013.

The President will inspect preparations for the XXVII Summer World University Games, which will take place in Kazan this year, and hold a meeting of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport.

Vladimir Putin took part in the official opening of a new multipurpose building at the Sambo-70 sports and education complex, held a meeting with coaches, athletes, sports veterans and experts on developing children’s physical education and children’s and youth sport.

The President will discuss developing a system of children’s physical education and youth sports in Russia, particularly in general educational institutions, with coaches, athletes, sports veterans and experts.

Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to participants, organisers and guests of the VI International Children’s Winter Games.

Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Sergei Ivanov took part in a celebration in honour of the 65^th anniversary of the birth of outstanding hockey player Valery Kharlamov.

Vladimir Putin sent greetings to participants and guests of the celebration in honour of the 65^th anniversary of the birth of outstanding hockey player Valery Kharlamov.

Vladimir Putin had a brief meeting with Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent. Their conversation took place after the Sochi Olympics countdown launch ceremony.

Today, Russia launches a nation-wide countdown to the first Winter Olympic Games in Russian history.

Following a two-day inspection of the Olympic facilities, Vladimir Putin held a meeting on the preparations for the XXII Olympic Winter Games and the XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014 in Sochi.

Vladimir Putin inspected the Olympic facilities of the coastal cluster in the Imeretin Valley, some of which are operational and others under construction.