In Shukolovo village of Moscow oblast Cup of Russian president in mountain skiing has started. At solemn ceremony of competitions` opening chairman of Directors board of Olympic winter games Association, business-manager of Russian president Vladimir Kozhin declared: "Mountain-skiing centers the same level as European ones open in Russia". In Kozhin`s opinion, this means that Russia will go in for sport intensively. From his turn, president of Russian Olympic Committee Leonid Tyagachev noted that there are many Russian sportsmen, who achieved sufficient success on international arena. "I think you will also demonstrate great results and 2-3 years later will win World Cup. All opportunities are created", - appealed Tyagachev to participants of competitions. 100 strongest sportsmen of Russian participate in presidential Cup. Among them are members of Russian national team, for which participation in tournament is planned stage of preparations to Olympiad in Turin. Next 2 stages of competitions will take place in March, 2006, in Kemerovskaya oblast and in Khanty - Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug.