OREANDA-NEWS.  February 16, 2012. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin spoke German with Wolfgang Schaedler, the head of the Russian national luge team who hails from Liechtenstein, and Russian national luge team member Viktor Kneib.

Speaking about the new Paramonovo complex, Kneib, who was there for a training ride, said that previously Russia did not have such advanced training facilities. The main thing for the training grounds today is to create a hotel complex and perform certain work on the track, the athlete said.

Also taking part in the conversation was Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Vitaly Mutko, who said that most of the work to ensure comprehensive bobsleigh training in Russia will be completed by late 2012.

The complex administrators said that an outdoor pool for ski freestylers will also be built in addition to the tracks for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.

Putin also spoke German with Martin Halebrant, the senior coach of the Russian national luge team. Halebrant complained that Germans are still the leaders in the sport.

Putin laughed and asked, "Why should a German complain about that?"

"Because I work in Russia," Halebrant said, promising to help the Russian team take home the championship.

Putin also asked how the complex complies with contemporary requirements. According to Halebrant, Paramonovo has all the necessary equipment and facilities, including components that do not have equivalents anywhere else.

The prime minister also asked when the Sochi bobsleigh track will open. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak replied that it will launch by March 1.

During the meeting, the athletes presented a special luge to Putin. It is not a competitive luge, the senior coach said, "because we know that otherwise you would use it right away". They also presented the prime minister with a luger's helmet. Putin thanked them for the gifts and signed the athletes' helmets, while wishing them success at the European Championship.

During his tour of the training complex, Vladimir Putin said that he wanted to ride down the track himself, but the athletes persuaded him not to do so. However, after examining the track, he could not resist, and rode down the track as a second pilot. The first pilot was master of sports in bobsleigh Alexei Shadeyev. Putin did not put on the bobsleigh team's uniform, as he was already wearing a sports jacket, and his black down bed jacket was fit for the ride.

The first time around, after a running start, the bobsleigh took off quickly, but stopped short of the end of the track. The second attempt was more successful, though, as Putin and Shadeyev sailed across the finish line.

When journalists asked him about his impressions, Putin answered that he enjoyed the ride.

"I recommend you give it a try," he added.