The Ministry of Youth and Sport is working out a strategy aimed at keeping the sportspersons at home. Deputy Minister on Sport Octavian Bodisteanu has told Info-Prim Neo that they are also working on a model of contract that will be signed with the sports federations of Moldova. “Signing a contract for the Olympic period with athletes in whom the state invests a certain sum of money is a rational and legal way out of this situation. The person will pledge to represent the country on the international arena before and after earning qualification for the Olympic Games,” said the deputy minister. Discussions are now held to decide what responsibilities can be imposed on the sportsperson who will want to represent another country at the Olympics. Returning the sum invested in their training to the government or the sports federation may be one of the conditions. Octavian Bodisteanu said that there were cases when Moldovan athletes represented other countries at the Olympic Games and international competitions. Among them may be weightlifter Cristina Iovu. “The federation’s president told me that she does not want to return home. We cannot oblige them from legal viewpoint. For me it is an unpleasant surprise,” said the deputy minister. Cristina Iovu, who medaled bronze at the London Olympics, was invited to represent Azerbaijan at international competitions.