Those of you who like your Russia strictly old school will be delighted to learn that president Dmitry Medvedev has suggested that those responsible for the country's lamentable performance at the Vancouver Winter Olympics would be well advised to clear their desks.

Russia clocked up three golds, five silvers and seven bronzes at the games, a result described by United Russia’s Supreme Council supremo and State Duma Speaker, Boris Gryzlov, as "a systemic failure".

Here's Medvedev's response to the humiliation:

Well, near as damn it. The Russian big cheese warned: "Those who were responsible for training should be responsible now. Those responsible will have to have the courage to step down."

He chillingly added that if the guilty parties were unwilling to walk the plank, "we will help them".

Pravda has more here. ®

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