Vladimir Putin hands out awards to Russian Olympic athletes

President of the RF Vladimir Putin has congratulated athletes winning gold at the Rio 2016, Brazil, on their successful performance and handed out state awards to them, reports TASS. The award ceremony took place at the Alexandrovsky Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Nine athletes were awarded the Order of Honor and another thirty seven athletes were awarded the Order of Friendship. In addition, according to a Government Executive Order, the Olympic champions 2016 will get a prize of 4 million rubles each.

Vladimir Putin reminded about the fact that the Russia’s National Olympic Team had to overcome challenges at the Olympics 2016 but managed to perform brilliantly. According to him, Russian athletes showed their true killer instinct and did not break down. President Putin underlined that policy carried out by some countries as well as their greed and cowardice take precedence over the Olympic movement principles there.

The Russian leader also added that the results of the Russian athletes’ performance at the Olympics 2016 would be discussed at a regular session of the Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sport.

As it was reported by Russkiy Mir website, our National Olympic Team became fourth in the medal count winning 56 medals, including 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze ones.