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Mr Medvedev called for greater access to sports activities for children and young people all around the country, saying that every school and residential district should have sports clubs and groups.

The President noted that progress has been made over the last decade. The country’s sports infrastructure is expanding and 1.2 million children are now engaged in organised sports activities. But at the same time, one in five Russian schools still do not have a gym, Mr Medvedev said.

The President stressed that the Physical Culture and Sports Development Federal Programme needs to be bolstered with extra-budgetary funding sources, regional support and business community social programmes.

Mr Medvedev also spoke of the need to make more active use of the internet and get regional media more involved in promoting physical culture and sport.

Among other issues the President raised in his remarks were developing top-level sport and support for the country’s best sportspeople and members of national teams, including junior and young people’s national teams.

Mr Medvedev gave a number of instructions to the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Science during the meeting.