Moskau (pps) With immediate effect, athletes attending international sporting events can enter and exit Russia without applying for visas. The decree, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, also applies to officials and members of delegations. This was announced in a statement posted on the official government website on Monday (www.kremlin.ru). Foreign athletes must carry a valid passport and official accreditation from local organizers for the visa-free status. Over the next few years, Russia will be hosting a number of major sporting events, among them the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi as well as the soccer World Cup in 2018.