By Nick Butler

Vladimir Putin has spoken positively about prospects of a future Russian Special Olympics bid ©Getty ImagesDecember 5 -  Vladimir Putin may back a Russian bid for the Special Olympics, which would continue his nation's "decade of sport" as well as improvements in attitudes towards those with disabilities.


Since it was founded in 1968 the Special Olympics, which caters for athletes with intellectual disabilities and like the Olympic and Paralympic Games rotates between Summer and Winter versions every second year, has never before been staged in Russia.

But, speaking at the All Russian Peoples Front Support Group, Putin responded to questions on the matter by insisting that "of course the Special Olympic Games may be organised here."

"We have everything necessary for that and we will discuss it with colleagues who are dealing with it at the international level," he added.

After the Winter version in Pyeongchang earlier this year the next two Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2015 and in Austria in 2017.

With the bidding process for 2019 - pitting together Australia, Germany and South Africa - already closed, the next Games Russia could bid for would be in 2021.

Russian team members parade during the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics European Summer Games in Warsaw in 2010 ©AFP/Getty ImagesRussian team members parade during the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics European Summer Games in Warsaw in 2010 ©AFP/Getty Images



If successful, this would extend a "decade of sport" which has included this year the Summer Universiade in Kazan and the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, ahead of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi next year.

World Championships in aquatics, fencing and ice hockey are also due to be held before the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk.

A Special Olympics bid would also continue an upturn in attitudes towards athletes with a disability in Russia, which have been improving ever since 1980 when Moscow declined to host the Paralympic Games because there were "no disabled people" in the country. 

Although ticket sales within Russia remain low, the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics next March represent this progress due to the strong promotional campaign as well as the consequent improvements in wheelchair access in Sochi and other regions. 

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