Impressions Games Official Game Site

Impressions Games Official Game Site

Impressions Games Official Game Site

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is not a happy man. Russian athletes at the Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics won only 15 medals and finished in 11th place. This is a far cry from the glory days when athletes from the former Soviet Union were accustomed to “Own the Podium.” Between 1956 and 1988 there were nine Winter Olympic Games held; the Soviet Union finished with the most medals seven times and came in second only twice. The 2010 games proved to be the worst on record for the country that used to be a powerhouse in winter sports.

President Medvedev Wants Changes

The day after the Vancouver/Whistler Games closed, Russia’s president called for the officials responsible for coaching and fielding his country’s team to find another line of work.

BBC News (March 1, 2010) reports that Medvedev told a meeting of the country’s governing United Russia party that those in charge of the Russian sport program “should take the brave decision and submit their resignations. If they cannot do it, we will help them.”