Russia plans state awards for successful Tokyo Olympians

Russia wants to honour its successful athletes from the Tokyo Olympics with state awards, the Kremlin announced on Wednesday.

Russia was not allowed to compete as a nation at the Games due to doping practices.

But 335 Russian athletes who could prove they were clean competed as neutrals as part of the “Russian Olympic Committee” (ROC) team.

Olympians will be honoured for a “great contribution to the development of national sports” and also displaying “an outstanding athletic performance, will to win, perseverance and determination,” according to a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin.

The team from Russia ended up in fifth place on the medals table with 20 gold, behind the U.S, China, Japan and Britain.

The Games finished on Sunday.