The incentives, which include 2.5 million rubles (£46,000/$76,000/€56,000) for silver and 1.7 million rubles (£32,000/$52,000/€38,000) for bronze, also apply to the Paralympic Games.

The figure is in line with what Russian medallists were offered at Vancouver 2010, where they finished only 11th overall with a total of 15 medals, three of them gold, including for Nikita Kriukov, winner of the men's sprint in cross-country skiing.

Cross-country skier Nikita Kriukov was one of three Russians to win gold medals at Vancouver 2010 ©AFP/Getty Images

It was their worst performance since Russia started competing on its own at Lillehammer 1994 following the break-up of the Soviet Union. 

Russian officials have set a target of top three in the medals table for Sochi 2014.