Matytsin told Russia's official state news agency TASS that the Ministry of Sport is working with National Federations.

He said the vaccinations would be voluntary, ensuring that athletes preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo are not impacted.

"A decision has been made to vaccinate coaches and athletes voluntarily," Matytsin told TASS.

"They are in a period of stress and training.

"Specialists of the FMBA (Federal Medical and Biological Agency) and the Ministry of Sports work together with the federations.

"The main thing is the principle of "do no harm."

Russian athletes are set to participate at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games under the name "ROC".

The name was set out in guidelines published by the International Olympic Committee last month in relation to the implementation of sanctions imposed on the Russian Anti-Doping Agency by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

COVID-19 vaccinations have been a key topic in the build-up to the Games, with athletes having been encouraged to receive a vaccine if offered.

The IOC has repeatedly said it will not jump the queue ahead of those who need a vaccination most and has insisted it will not be mandatory for athletes to compete at the Games.

Countries such as Lithuania, Hungary, Serbia and Israel are already in the process of vaccinating their Olympic and Paralympic delegations however.

Mexican athletes were confirmed to have been placed in a priority group for vaccinations last month.

The Nepal Olympic Committee confirmed this week that it has vaccinated athletes and coaches who are set to compete or coach at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics against COVID-19, as well as many still hoping to qualify for the Games.

Other National Olympic Committees, including those in Germany, Canada, Britain and Italy, who have decided not to ask for their athletes to be given priority for vaccinations, will hope that vaccines will be available ahead of the Games.

IOC President Thomas Bach announced last week that the Chinese Olympic Committee had offered to vaccinated Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 teams before the Games.

Bach said the organisation would pay for each vaccine, while paying for two doses more that can be made available to the general population in that country for each athlete vaccinated.

The IOC later clarified the offer only applied to countries which have approved Chinese vaccines.