Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday appointed former Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko as the newly created deputy prime minister in charge of sports, tourism and youth policy, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The agency said Putin discussed the proposal with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at his residence outside Moscow.

On Oct. 11, at a meeting of the Russian Council for the Development of Physical Culture and Sports, the Russian leader talked about the need to create the post of a deputy prime minister in charge of sports, tourism and youth policy.

Putin has also approved the nomination of former Deputy Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov as the new sports minister, RIA Novosti said. Endi