R-Sport is now part of Rossiya Segodnya, an international media group set up in December 2013, whose mission is to provide fast, balanced and objective coverage of global events and inform international audiences of various perspectives on key events it is claimed.  

Rossiya Segodnya is Russia's largest producer of information materials oriented towards an international audience, the business community, Government agencies and the public.

"For our news desk, it is very important to cover not only high-performance sports, but also those sports which do not have a large audience, but are nevertheless very important," said R-Sport desk head, Vasily Konov.

"That's why we support the Paralympic, Deaflympic games and others.

"It is one of our jobs, to promote all kinds of sport, to make people aware and help them understand that anyone, in any situation can move forward, take up sports and perform at the highest level."

R-Sport was the official host news agency for Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images




Rossiya Segodnya, which in English translates as Russia Today, is engaged in radio broadcasting, and newswires in Russian, English, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as information portals in 10 languages and multimedia international press centres.

Additionally, the international media group produces and distributes photo content, infographics and information materials on social networks, and also creates content for mobile apps.

It is regarded as the most popular news agency in Russia and is also said to be the most quoted source of information on Russian social networks and blogs.

RIA Novosti, the original host news and photographic agency for Sochi 2014, was abolished and replaced by Rossiya Segodnya only two months before the Games commenced. 

Russian Government officials claimed at the time that the decision to restructure the news agency had been taken in order to make it more economical while increasing its reach. 

The Winter Deaflympics are scheduled to take place in Russia for the first time from Saturday (March 28) to April 5, featuring 31 medal sets in five sports - Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboard, curling and ice hockey. 

Khanty-Mansiysk and Magnitogorsk had stepped in as a replacement last year after Vancouver withdrew. 

The Organising Committee has received applications from 450 athletes spanning 27 countries, with the hosts nation's team comprising of 78 athletes from 16 regions.

Russian athletes have taken part in sports movements for the deaf and hearing-impaired since 1957 and hold leading positions in unofficial team rankings.

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