Russian news agency RIA Novosti announced on Thursday the creation of a multimedia Agency of Sports Information.

Dmitry Tugarin, former adviser to the chief of the Russian Federal Agency for Sport and Physical Education, has been appointed to head the new sports news agency, which will start work in October and is a department of RIA Novosti.

"The decision on setting up the new "niche" agency was taken after RIA Novosti management has studied the market of sports news, which has great potential," said Maxim Filimonov, RIA Novosti deputy editor-in-chief.

The Winter Olympics in Vancouver and other large scale sports events have shown that interest to sport and sports news is growing in Russia and abroad, he added.

"Sport is playing a more and more important role in the life of the country, that's why the demand for sports information will only increase," Filimonov said.

Tugarin said the agency intends to actively cooperate with those who determine sports policy in Russia and in the world.

"We expect that Russian sports federations, the Russian Olympic Committee, and executive bodies at the federal and regional levels will become our trusted partners," he said.

RIA Novosti is Russia's leading news agency in terms of multimedia technologies, website audience reach and citations in the Russian media. RIA Novosti delivers news and information in all possible formats, including video, animated infographics and cartoons to professional clients and news consumers in 14 languages. RIA Novosti has proven expertise in creating tailored interactive news and information services for mobile operators and content providers.

MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti)