Held at the Russian Sports Ministry earlier this month, Matytsin, who is also the Russian Sports Minister, handed out prizes.

"I am grateful to our great champions, everyone sitting in the hall, for what you are doing for the development of mass sports, professional sports, which has always been based on our work with children," Matytsin said.

"I would like to thank all the leaders of sports in the regions."

Matytsin added that he hoped the events could be a catalyst for participation in children's, school and university sport.

"'Children are our future' is not only a slogan, so let's do our best to keep them healthy, educated and proud of the country in which they live."

The final competitions of the Russian Universiade were held in Krasnoyarsk, Chelyabinsk and Novosibirsk and were attended by around 800 athletes and coaches from 78 universities and 42 constituent entities.

There were a total of 46 sets of medals on offer, with the National State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Health from St Petersburg winning the university competition.

The Siberian Federal University from Krasnoyarsk came second and third was Ural State University of Physical Culture from Chelyabinsk.

The final sports competitions of the Winter Spartakiad were held in Krasnoyarsk, Krasnodar, Perm and the Chelyabinsk region, with 62 constituent entities or Russia taking part in 15 sports.

More than 2,500 people competed for 96 sets of medals in total, with teams from the Sakhalin, Tyumen and Moscow regions victorious overall.