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Asked about Russia’s results at the Olympics, Mr Ivanov said that athletes first need to have all the necessary infrastructure for training for big competitions, and only then can one ask them to produce top results. “You need to understand that miracles don’t just happen,” Mr Ivanov said. “You must first build dozens of ski jump ramps and then expect high results, because when the whole country has only two ski jump ramps, while Austria has 100, what is there even to discuss?”

On the environmental situation in Sochi, Mr Ivanov noted that there has been substantial improvement. “Many people have already forgotten what the quality of the sea water was like due to lack of proper waste treatment facilities, and what the air quality was like before,” he said.

Mr Ivanov told the journalists that the previous day he visited the Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre, located in the Sochi National Park, and said that the first cubs were born just recently at the centre, giving hope for renewing the Persian leopard population.

Mr Ivanov also mentioned another project, the Amur Leopard Prograame, for which a special fund has been established, with the money to be spent on putting in place the conditions for scientific research, buying the necessary equipment and paying the employees’ wages.