Putin meets Russian Olympic team

Vladimir Putin gave the Russian Olympic team a presidential send-off on Saturday, asking dozens of the country's medal hopes to ensure the national anthem rings out "as often as possible" at the London Games, RIA Novosti reports.

Most of Russia's 436-strong team fly out to the British capital later Saturday, with 100 athletes invited to the farewell Kremlin reception in its ornate Alexandrovsky Hall.

"I want to wish you that due to your victories, the flag of the Russian Federation will be raised and the anthem of our country will sound as often as possible at the Olympic stadiums of London," Putin told the athletes.

"Hundreds of thousands of people will be watching you from the stands, and in front of the TV sets all over the planet millions will be watching your performance, along with, and I'm not exaggerating, millions of sports lovers in our country."