RUSSIA: OLYMPICS: Russia says it's aiming to be among the top three countries in terms of medals won at the upcoming 2012 summer Olympic games in London

Record ID: 330835

  • Title: RUSSIA: OLYMPICS: Russia says it's aiming to be among the top three countries in terms of medals won at the upcoming 2012 summer Olympic games in London
  • Date: 10th July 2012
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 10, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF BUILDING WITH SIGN READING 'OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF RUSSIA' (IN RUSSIAN) BUILDING ENTRANCE WITH RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE SIGN PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ALEXANDER ZHUKOV AND RUSSIAN MINISTER OF SPORTS VALERY MUTKO ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN OLYMPICS COMMITTEE ALEXANDER ZHUKOV SAYING: "I don't think that there has ever been this level of preparation as (what went into) the London Olympics, at least not in Russian history. The level of sports facilities, the scientists that were involved (in preparing the athletes), the material conditions for athletes. So I think that we've done the maximum of everything possibile (to prepare). Now we're just going to cheer and hope that the result will be good." JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN OLYMPICS COMMITTEE ALEXANDER ZHUKOV SAYING: "We're counting on our team's good performance. From the beginning we've had the goal for our team, as you know, of being among the top three medalists. In our opinion, this goal is completely reachable and if our team performs successfully, we will definitely achieve this goal." CAMERAMAN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN MINISTER OF SPORTS VALERY MUTKO SAYING: "These athletes who are representing our country are the best. I repeat that we are going to participate in 34 out of 37 Olympic sports competitions." RUSSIAN AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE FLAGS AT NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA15D4YBQCXNVLK5QRDN7BSX4HO
  • Story Text: The president of Russia's Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov on Tuesday (July 10) made it clear his expectations for the country at this year's Games in London - third place on the medal table.
    Zhukov told a news conference Russian athletes were as best prepared as they had ever been for an Olympics.
    "I don't think that there has ever been this level of preparation as (what went into) the London Olympics, at least not in Russian history," he told reporters.
    "The level of sports facilities, the scientists that were involved (in preparing the athletes), the material conditions for athletes. So I think that we've done the maximum of everything within possibile (to prepare).
    "Now we're just going to cheer and hope that the result will be good.
    "We're counting on our team's good performance. From the beginning we've had the goal for our team, as you know, of being among the top three medalists. In our opinion this goal is completely reachable and if our team performs successfully, we will definitely achieve this goal," Zhukov added.
    Russia is sending a total of 436 athletes to London, with just over 800 people in total - including coaches, and therapists - travelling to the United Kingdom.
    "These athletes who are representing our country are the best," Russia's Minister of Sports Valery Mutko said.
    "I repeat that we are going to participate in 34 out of 37 Olympic sports competitions."
    At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, hosts China won the most gold medals, but the U.S. topped the medal tally with 110 with China on 100.
    Russia was third among the sporting superpowers with 72.
    Russia will host the next Winter Olympic Games in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi in 2014.
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