(BBC) President Dmitry Medvedev has called on Russian Olympic officials to resign, following the nation’s worst ever performance in the winter games.
Those in charge of preparing Russian athletes for the Vancouver games “should take the brave decision and submit their resignations,” he said.
“If they cannot do it, we will help them,” Mr Medvedev added.
Russia – traditionally a winter sports powerhouse – ended 11th in the medals table, with just three golds.
“For a long time we have benefited from Soviet achievements, at some point they ran out,” President Medvedev said at a meeting of the governing United Russia party yesterday.
He urged a change to the system of preparing Russian athletes, ahead of the next Winter Olympics, in the southern Russian city of Sochi.
Russia has experienced a steady decline in its Olympic performances since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
The games in Vancouver were particularly painful for the nation because of the failures in sports such as ice hockey and figure skating.
